Described as: "Dwarf with deeply divided leaves. Very slow growing great for bonsai and containers. Reddish spring color followed by a nice maroon for summer months. May burn slightly in full sun in southern states. Fall color is crimson. Extremely limited because of its slow growth, not much scion wood can be obtained form it." The leaves are somewhat feathery and have a 'smoky' appearance which I think is very attractive. Here are a few pics: K4
Yes, it probably should have read something like "Will burn to a crisp in full sun in Southern states"! :D K4
Can you tell me more about this cultivar. Where did it originate and how tall and wide could I expect it to get in maybe 20 years. I have had one in the ground for a couple of years and tried without success to graft it. Will try again.
This tree is small, maybe 4 feet after 10-15 years. It is somewhat pendulous in habit, so you should stake it to give it some height. Will hold its purple color in 1/2 day or so of sun, but needs protection from hot afternoon sun. Easy to grow despite its delicate appearance, it will grow faster when young, then slow down. A true dwarf.
I know this is an older post, but this cultivar originated as a chance seedling off of 'Sherwood Flame' and is named and propogated by Millstone Japanese Maple Nursery near Dadeville, AL, by Paul and Mary Lowe (sp?). His oldest cultivars are around 3-4 feet x 3-4 feet and to my knowledge are all in pots at his nursery. Mine stays dark in color, near black, all summer and gets 3-4 hours of AM sun, several hours of dappled light midday and a couple of hours of direct light again at the end of the day in a container and does not leaf burn in central Alabama. A worthy cultivar to say the least!!!!!!
Looks like you have done your homework on the Sherwood Elfin. I have one thats been in the ground for about 3 years and one in the pot. I sent scions to a Dick Van Der Maat whose nursery specializes in Japanese Maples. The Lowes are nice people land if you get by there you need to look them up.
I dont have much to add, except that Paul Lowe's Sherwood Elfin is one of my favorites. I agree with jwsandal, if you are ever near Dadeville or Auburn, Al. you should stop by the Millstone Nursery and talk to Paul Lowe who named this variety. They are very nice people and have a nice selection of Japanese Maples. I still have one that's been in the ground for about 3 years and dont appear to have grown very much, about the same as the Red Feather I got from Harold Johnston. For a dwarf red Japanese Maple, the Sherwood Elfin will be hard to beat.
I love this little tree, so pretty and elegant, and downright adorable with the new leaves; can't wait for it to fill out some more, though by all accounts, I will be waiting awhile...
^^^ SO much nicer than all the red dissectums you see at the box stores (Crimson Queen, Tamukeyama, etc...). LOVE how full yours is, Charlie. How old/big is it?