I have been reading the forum about new growth this fall and I noticed my A. palm. 'Higasayama' has a couple new shoots that are about 6-8" long and the leaves are noticeably larger and do not have any variegation. Since I just got the acer this spring, I was wondering if that is common with this cultivar? Is it like Koto no Ito in that those branches will have the normal growth next year? Kay Dye
The answer is "yes". Many variegates or varieties with unusual qualities display large or somewhat normal new (juvenile) growth, and then the next season and in subsequent years, that wood will produce leaves with the desired (mature) characteristics. I have some trees that produce new growth almost as big as your hand, but the mature leaves are barely 2 inches long.
Higasa yama has been unlucky here, spring frosts or hail in its first 3 years. (And unhappy winters, I'm going to move it to a spot I hope is less wet, and move a young Esk Sunset to pride-of-place -- you can see it from the front door. I've also ordered a larger HY.) Each year it has pushed secondary leaves without any variegation at all. Currently there is one variegated leaf on the whole plant, it lost the entire first flush in a massive hail storm.
