I found this tree at Lowes 75% off, ~$30 and couldn't resist. It is about 7' tall and was tagged as a Acer Palmatum Verde, but I am pretty sure that is wrong since it is so red. I tried to figure it out myself and the leaf shape seems to match Katsura. However, all the descriptions for Katsura talk about a yellowish color, which this tree doesn't seem have. I am not sure if this is a factor or not, but the tree was planted in half dirt and half red mulch at Lowes. That couldn't change the leaf color, could it? Any ideas? Thanks.
If it's grafted it's likely a named cultivar. The growing conditions and possibly fertilizer would affect the colour and leaf size, maybe stressed a little regarding colour. Leaves do seem large for 'Katsura', with from what I'm familiar, and as you mention shape is similar. Not much help, it looks good.
Michael Katsura is a cultivar of JM too[*-*]aureum group ,Fulminis the pics of leaves in the site www.esveld.nl are similar .....
Perhaps Michael is joking! ;) This won't soon be mistaken for a Katsura tree! I would guess this is not A. palmatum 'Katsura', but different conditions will lead to different colours... -E
Its a fine looking tree wait and see how it develops It does not look like Acer palmatum 'Katsura' to me though
Wow, thanks for the responses. I will keep looking. We'll see what it does in the fall and hopefully get a few more clues. Hopefully the color stays and isn't a result of the conditions. I would be more than happy to see the same coloring again next year.
I do not believe that is acer palmaturm "katsura", but it is a lovely tree so I know you will enjoy it. I do not speak Japanese but it was my understanding that "katsura" means "wig" in Japanese. Enjoy your tree.
Ready for round two? I thought I would post some new pics from last fall and this spring to see if anyone recognized this variety. The first photo is from October of last year. The other four are this spring. Thanks for the help.
http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=13482 Judging by the pics in this thread, the coloring looks similar, but the mature leaf shape is much narrower. I think it is in the Amoenum Group. I found this thread about beni zuru and the new growth sees to be similar in a lot of ways, but I don't think it is a match. I will keep searching.
