Ryuzu
‘Ryuzu’ is a dwarf Japanese maple with a very compact habit, recognisable by its tightly packed palmate leaves, with lobes that are often pointed and slightly twisted. In spring, the foliage emerges pale green with a salmon/apricot tint (often along the margins), turns green in summer, then colours in autumn from yellow-orange to orange-red. An ideal cultivar for containers, rock gardens, or small gardens.
Character & interest
‘Ryuzu’ is above all a cultivar of form and texture: short internodes, leaves set close together, and a decorative “congested” look. The result is dense, almost sculptural, and remains interesting even when the colour is greener in summer.
Colours
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Spring : pale green, often with a salmon/apricot tint (sometimes pinkish).
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Summer : deeper green.
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Autumn : yellow-orange (sometimes orange-red depending on conditions).
Habit & vigour
Dwarf, bushy habit, often forming a flattened globe (cushion). Slow to moderate growth.
Indicative size
Order of magnitude: around 1 m at 10 years in several catalogues, then generally 1.5 to 2 m in the long run (variable depending on conditions, graft, and training).
Exposure
Bright partial shade or gentle (morning) sun. Free-draining soil that stays cool in summer. In a container, regular watering is important to keep the foliage clean.
Origin & history
The name ‘Ryuzu’ is generally translated as “dragon head”. Some Western horticultural sources present it as a selection/distribution associated with Lucile Whitman (Whitman’s Farms, Salem, Oregon), without certainty, as other sources mention a Japanese origin.
| Groupe MS | 11. Palmatum |
|---|---|
| Habit | Bushy |
| Vigueur | Lente |
| Taille 10 ans | Petit (1-2m) |
| Forme de feuille | Palmate |
| Couleur Printemps | Vert / Rose |
| Couleur Été | Green |
| Couleur Automne | Jaune / Orange |
| Exposure | Soleil / Mi-ombre |
| Size / Grade | C1, C1.5, C10, C2, C3, C5, C7.5, P9 |
