Sharp’s pygmy

Character & interest

‘Sharp’s Pygmy’ is among the most miniature Acer palmatum cultivars available: it forms a tight, very decorative silhouette, with fine branching that quickly gives it a clean, structured “shrub” presence. It’s an excellent option if you are looking for a stable Japanese maple that stays small and is visually rich despite its size.

Colours

• Spring : fresh green (young leaves small and very finely cut).

• Summer : deeper green.

• Autumn : orange, then red / orange-red depending on exposure and cool nights.

Habit & vigour

Low habit, spreading to rounded, very dense. Slow growth, which makes it easy to use in a container, as an edging plant, or at the front of a border.

Indicative size

Observed orders of magnitude depending on sources and training:

• often 0.6 to 1.2 m (very dwarf form, especially in a pot or under restricted conditions),

• commonly listed at around 1 to 1.5 m at maturity,

• some references indicate it may, after many years, reach about 3 m in very favourable conditions.

Exposure

Gentle sun / bright partial shade. A sheltered spot (dry winds, scorching sun) helps keep the foliage clean.

Origin & history

‘Sharp’s Pygmy’ is a selection from a chance seedling, noticed in the early/mid-1980s at Sharp’s Nursery in Sandy (Oregon, USA).