Acer palmatum var.dissectum Firecracker - Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Firecracker' is a variety of Japanese maple that combines both ornamental and cultural qualities. It is a beautiful small bush, graceful with a flexible and widely rounded habit, remarkable for the delicacy of its foliage, and incredibly attractive with its deep red colour that it maintains from spring to autumn. Its growth is fast and it is less prone to diseases. It is water-efficient, and tolerates some limestone in the soil. In the ground, as well as in a large pot, this small maple uniquely enlivens the partially shaded areas of the garden or terrace.

Acer palmatum is native to eastern China, Korea, and Japan, and belongs to the Sapindaceae family. The 'Firecracker' cultivar stands out with its foliage divided into very thin segments, coloured in shades of red from spring to autumn. It is a small deciduous tree, hardy, with rather fast growth for a Japanese maple. It develops a single trunk supporting a rounded and spreading crown, quite sparse, supported by flexible and thin branches of reddish-brown colour. Eventually, it will reach a height of 2.5 m (8.2 ft) with an approximate spread of 3 m (9.8 ft), depending on the growing conditions. Its foliage, described as laciniate, is composed of palmate leaves, measuring 5 cm to 8 cm (2 in to 3.1 in) long, deeply divided into 5 to 7 finely cut lobes with strongly toothed edges. Their colour changes from bright red in spring to dark burgundy and then back to bright red in autumn before falling. In April, insignificant reddish flowers grouped in small clusters appear. From September onwards, it produces red fruits with recurved wings, 3 cm (1.2 in) long.

Acer palmatum 'Firecracker' will be enhanced when planted alone in a shaded short grass lawn, or in ericaceous beds along with azaleas, pieris, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and heathers. It can also make a beautiful bonsai to be cultivated in a flat dish. Despite its delicate appearance, this small tree is robust and accommodating. It only requires light and well-drained soil, that is not too poor, and slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. It requires occasional watering during dry periods. Diseases such as Verticillium (caused by a fungus) are more likely to develop in constantly moist substrates than in intermittently dry ones. Note that this variety performs well in hot climates if the tree is placed away from direct sunlight and protected from the wind.