PlantFiles: Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream'

I have this planted where, in the middle of summer, the sun is on it until 1pm. That seems to be enough to burn the newest leaves each June. Am considering moving it, as the leaves are very pretty.

Acer Palmatum Orange Dream -- Orange Dream Japanese Maple - Photo shows spring color which demonstrates why it's named Orange Dream. The bright orange leaves emerge out of florescent pink buds, then the leaf color fades into a lemon color with orange shaded leaf margins. The leaves then slowly transition to a yellow green transitioning into a lime green by summer. Fall color is yellow. The bark on the trunk is a very unique green color, which contrast the spring color and it also adds great winter interest. Orange Dream will grow slowly into a 13’ upright, taller than wide tree, with dense floliage. If left un-pruned it will take on a narrow shrub like form. I like to prune out some of the dense foliage (removing any newly formed downward growing branches) in mid-summer to expose the green trunk and allow air and light into the center of the tree. Using this technique will keep the tree looking like a specimen tree rather than a dense shrub. My orange dream is grown in part shade. The roots remain shaded so it’s very drought tolerant. It can tolerate afternoon sun in northern Ohio, but the intense late July and early August sun may burn delicate newly formed leaves, but the mature foliage stands up to the sun quite well, so the burning is insignificant as the majority of the growing occurs in May and June before the sun gets intense. Introduced in the late 1980’s by Fratelli Gilardelli Nursery, Italy.

My Orange Dream leaves do not emerge as orange as some, even in 3/4 day of sun, but the spring color is a very beautiful yellow-green. I had mine planted on the north side of the house where it received sun until about 3:00, and gave it plenty of water - for 3 years, but every summer the new growth would burn back. I don't recommend afternoon sun for this one in zone 7. It does make a lovely houseplant in a sunny window, and has a lovely, graceful shape.

Orange dream is a beautiful light green which makes a great contrast up against other colored maples--but it's called an ORANGE dream because in Fall it is supposed to get very orange (see photo I submitted for a great shot). It took my orange dream about 3 yrs before it turned really orange this Fall, previous to that it was great but not outstanding. I do notice some spotty type problems on it when it is 'green' and noticed this same condition on several in a nearby nursery. Don't really know what that is but it is still very healthy, so must be something unique to this tree. If anyone knows, give a holler. I've figured it needs some nutrient it wasn't getting at the right time. An upright spreading 'apple tree' shape tree--so don't put it up against a house or wall, it will need the room to grow the big canopy.

This selection is a relatively new introduction. It is one of the ;'flowering maples' valued for its intense spring colour. This one has leaves that emerge florescent orange. Summer foliage is yellow to lime-green then turn bright gold in autumn. Plants are bushy and more shrub-like, reaching to about 3 m. It is suitable for containers. It belongs to the Palmatum Group.