Beni hoshi
‘Beni hoshi’ (often sold as Ruby Stars) is a dwarf Japanese maple with an upright, compact habit and rounded foliage. It starts bright red in spring, then shifts to burgundy tones and sometimes greener notes in summer. Autumn finishes yellow to orange, sometimes very luminous. A very good choice for containers.
Character & interest
A small, easy-to-place maple, appreciated for its colour changes and manageable size. The leaves are often more rounded (amoenum-type), reinforcing the “dense little tree” effect.
Colours
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Spring : brilliant red (often the most striking moment).
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Début été : burgundy / dark red, then the plant may partially green up with red nuances.
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Fin été : sometimes an orange/apricot tone on certain shoots depending on conditions.
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Autumn : yellow to orange (sometimes a deep orange).
Habit & vigour
Upright, compact habit with dense branching. Slow to moderate vigour.
Indicative size
Order of magnitude: around 1.2–1.5 m (sometimes a little more) in the medium term, and often around ~1.5 m or more with age depending on conditions (references vary). The main interest is its small overall development.
Exposure
Best results in gentle sun or bright partial shade. In a pot, avoid scorching full sun + drying wind: the foliage holds better with a bit of shelter.
Origin & history
Cultivar named and introduced by Del Loucks (Dell’s Japanese Maples, Oregon, USA).
| Groupe MS | 17. Witches Broom |
|---|---|
| Habit | Globulaire |
| Vigueur | Lente |
| Taille 10 ans | Nain (<1m) |
| Forme de feuille | Palmate |
| Couleur Printemps | Red |
| Couleur Été | Vert-rougeâtre |
| Couleur Automne | Jaune / Orange |
| Exposure | Mi-ombre |
| Size / Grade | C1, C1.5, C10, C2, C3, C5, C7.5, P9 |
