Ryusei
‘Ryusei’ (often also sold as ‘Ryusen’) is a Japanese maple with a very strongly weeping habit—rare among palmatums with non-dissected leaves. Its branches fall in a cascade, sometimes almost “like lianas”, which makes it possible to train it on a stem, a stake, or even let it spill over a wall. The foliage emerges yellow-green in spring, becomes green in summer, then turns orange to red in autumn. Ideal for containers and small gardens.
Character & interest
This is a “silhouette” cultivar: the plant doesn’t just weep—it forms a true vertical waterfall. Grafted on a standard or trained on a support, it becomes a very architectural specimen, spectacular even in a small space.
Colours
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Spring : yellow-green to soft green.
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Summer : green (deeper).
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Autumn : yellow / orange then red (often very decorative).
Habit & vigour
Strongly weeping habit, very pendulous shoots. Growth is rather slow to moderate depending on conditions, but the form can change a lot depending on graft height and training (staking).
Indicative size
As a guide: often given as a small subject around 1 m at 10 years (depending on training), potentially reaching about 2 m tall for ~1 m wide in some references. In practice, the silhouette depends greatly on how it is trained (standard, on a support, or left free).
Exposure
Gentle sun / bright partial shade. Well-drained soil that stays cool in summer. Protection from dry wind and scorching sun improves foliage quality, especially in a container.
Origin & history
Cultivar of Japanese origin.
| Groupe MS | 11. Palmatum |
|---|---|
| Habit | Weeping |
| Vigueur | Modérée |
| Taille 10 ans | Petit (1-2m) |
| Forme de feuille | Palmate |
| Couleur Printemps | Vert clair |
| Couleur Été | Green |
| Couleur Automne | Jaune / Orange |
| Exposure | Soleil / Mi-ombre |
| Size / Grade | C1, C1.5, C10, C2, C3, C5, C7.5, P9 |
