I am no expert, I just know what I want. I cannot decide on the Katsura, Shindeshojo, or the Orange Dream. Every bit of information on each cultivar I read on the internet is slightly different. Which one would be considered to have more of a classic tree shape? I know these trees will all be equally beautiful, so I would rather have one with more of the classic upright tree shape. Also, I've read the OD can get 20+ feet and one place said only about 10 feet. Either way, is it considered a shrub or a tree? The Katsura I hear is usually described as a shrub of 6-8 feet. Correct? And the Shindeshojo is usually described as a shrub as well, but getting possibly up to 15 feet. Does that sound right? My ideal tree would be between 10-15 mature and have less of a shrubby appearance, but I suppose I can always prune to my liking. Can someone please help me? Thanks in advance!
From shrubbiest to most open and upright: Orange Dream, Katsura, Shindeshojo Katsura can be more easily trained to be open and upright, but Orange Dream is natually very shrubby. There are many clones of Katsura around so you many get a more shrubby dwarf to semi-dwarf or a larger upright. Katsura is generally more heat tolerant than Orange dream, has smaller leaves and a bit more color in the summer growth. Shindeshojo is probably the showiest of all the plants through the seasons, with the best display in the spring and early summer. It will be a small upright tree of the size you mention, but probably 10-14ft in time. It is not substantial and exhibits a twiggy and open habit, forming a typical small caliper trunk and an open arching habit. It would be my vote with the choices given with Katsura a suitable second but there at many other green-leaved palmatums that are much more open and upright than Katsura from 10-12' to well over 20ft. tall. Cheers.
Thanks for the help! With that said, then do you (or anybody else) have any other suggestions of trees that might suit me?
Just a reminder that Katsura needs to be kept well watered when young compared to maples, but would also be my first choice (I've had them, and they're very 'neat' trees!).
This is so difficult! I was just looking at Mountain Maples and they have a Katsura and they claim the mature size is between 11-15 feet, so maybe they have ones that get a little larger, which is what I want. I've heard good things about the Katsura but it seems harder to find information compared to the Shindeshojo, and harder to find to buy. I think I might go with the Kat. Still undecided though. Any more imput would be nice.
Other suggestions that are regularly cultivated and not terribly hard to find: Iijima sunago Osakazuki Hogyoku Trompenburg Yezo nishiki (Ezo nishiki) On a less expensive note, a generic green palmatum seedling might due just fine. Typically a bit larger than you would like, if you take the time to select one with good upright form you can have a very nice tree. They typically have a nice orange-red to pink spring color and good orange, yellow, red fall color. Most of the red and green uprights can be kept within the 15-20ft range and will not exceed that for quite a long time unless given ideal climate and conditions. It might be better to see what you have access to nearby and go from there. Katsura was originally a pretty dwarf selection growing wider than tall and would probably not have exceed 5ft and most would have been closer to 4ft at maturity. We don't see Katsura offered like that anymore, but we know we have found the correct plant when we have found a dwarf. Most plants sold as Katsura will easily double that height which is more along the lines of what you read at Mountain Maples. Changes in the plant from repetitive grafting onto vigorous rootstock, the introduction of seedlings or generic seedlings, and even the mix up of Katsura with its closely related and/or similar looking named varieties have left us with a plant quite unlike the "original" Katsura. Rarely do people associate that SIZE and growth habit of the plant the buy as Katsura as a factor in the validity of the purchase--they see green leaves and vibrant orange spring color and they are happy. We just bought a plant as Katsura that has correctly sized and appearing leaves and a compact head on the plant but it is much too tall to be correct. I would say it has suffered the effects of too much vigor due to fertilizer and rootstock overtime. Sometimes these types of threads continue to be easiest to respond to and help with if you continue to address it the way you started with potential selections or naming the plants you have access to and then we can work with those. It gets much to vast if you really want "other" suggestions based on opinion. I think in your situation you are better seeing the plant in person or buying locally rather than mail order. Cheers!
Very helpfull galt! Thanks! I went out and got a deal on a generic acer palmatum to control my urges through the winter. Sometime before fall, I'll make my decision on which other cultivar to buy, so that will give me some time. I'm currently only renting a house and the generic palmatum has a absolutely perfect place in the front of the house where it will be planted before I move, after I'm done with school (couple years). I don't mind permanently devoting this $20 tree to this house because it will look wonderful and this house could REALLY use it. Also, it will be great practice for me until I buy my own house. The Kat or the Shindeshojo will be kept in a container in this "perfect place" until I move where the generic tree will go. Again, thanks Galt. I'll consider everything you said.
