The first image, as the Maple was leafing out, was taken a little over a week prior to us taking the second pic in overcast conditions. The third pic was taken minutes after the second pic and just shows a crude overview of the leaves. The fourth pic shows the Yubae on the left taken on the same day as the second and third pics. Also, in the fourth pic shows a hard to make out Ornatum to the left in the front patio behind the pillar, a Jiro shidare to the right and a Sherwood Flame Maple. The first image of Yubae is the truest for base color of the four pics. Note: Well, I see something did not go as planned. The order of the pics in the description goes right to left pic 1, pic 2, pic 4 and pic 3 to the far left. The coloring of this Maple will appear different in its base color depending on how much light it gets, the soil type and how much available nutrients are in the soil. As you can see we've had this Maple for a while. It originally came out of Sherwood, Oregon. In the early Spring it is a red on red variegate but the variegation is quite subtle and is not widespread throughout all of the leaves. The Maple almost appears to be illuminated by how the light shines through the leaves.
Just to clarify something. Our Yubae Maple came from a nursery in Sherwood, Oregon and has been in the ground since 1993.
Here are two close-up photos of early summer foliage on a tree grown in heavy shade, approximately 2 years old, and now the 3 year tree with spring leave emerging. Spring leaves have been exposed to full sun so far this year. One interesting effect shown on the isolated leaf shot is the purple iridescence that some leaves develop near the leaf base as they emerge. One attribute of this tree is that is seems to exhibit a multitonal color that is shown in different lights and at different angles, almost a glowing effect at times. MJH
I received this plant tagged as 'Yu bae' last autumn. Over the summer it grew slowly, later in the season it leaves were crisped. It gradually sent out a new set of leaves pictured below and taken today. In viewing Mr. Shep and MJH pics I note that both plants look quite different than mine. Vertrees photo (2nd edition pg. 141) also looks different than any shown here. Book for Maples (pg. 344) shows a 'Yu bae' with coloration like my plant but with (mostly) different base lobes. Anyone else growing this plant have observations about it's distinctive characteristics?
