Acer shirasawanum 'Red Dawn'

Here is Acer shirasawanum 'Red Dawn'. It looks like no other shirasawanum that I have seen, you know, orbicular leaves. Must be a hybrid.

 

Here are two close up photos of Red Dawn taken 11/8/04. This first year graft had deep olive colored leaves with a light purple undertone when I purchased it in mid-summer. New growth is deep red and fall color deep purple as shown in the photographs. This maples was slower to show fall color than many and the leaves have held up well through a few frosts. Its growth rate is faster than than most shiraswanums and its leaf shape and color atypical.

 

2 other selections with deeply cut, purplish leaves 'Gloria' and 'Yasemin' are thought to perhaps be derived from crossing between 'Palmatifolium' and 'Bloodgood'.

 

Spring foliage

My first spring with this tree.

 

New plant for me from Mendocino.
I'm smitten with the shirasawanums. It all started with palmatifolium.
Photo 4/28/07 Philly, PA

 

Photo 4/19/09.

Someone online referred to 'Red dawn' as an aristocrat in the garden, they meant it in a positive way. I concur.

 

Interesting to read the earlier comments suggesting 'Red Dawn' is a cross/hybrid because ger-
minating its seeds would also suggest that. Red Dawn easily germinates the next Spring after Fall
planting whereas shirasawanums usually require a 2 year stratification to germinate.

 

Thanks for that info Mike.

I wasn't aware of the longer stratification for shirasawanums.
What's the deal with japonicums?

 

Here are the fall colors for 2011

 

Here is my 'Red Dawn'

 

Good afternoon D, I bet your hoping it's going to look like Charlie's at the end of the year.

Looking very healthy, well on it's way to being a stunner D.