Tsuma gaki

Character & interest

‘Tsuma gaki’ is a cultivar of subtle contrast: the leaf stays overall light in spring, but the red tips create a very readable signature. It’s an excellent choice if you want a maple that makes an impact without being variegated, with a naturally compact silhouette.

Colours

• Spring : yellow-green / light green with purple-red tips (often also a slight red on the margins).

• Summer : green to dark green; the tips may look brown-red; some summer flushes can produce red tips again.

• Autumn : red (sometimes mixed red-orange depending on exposure and cool temperatures).

Habit & vigour

Compact, rounded habit, with growth generally slow to moderate. Branching tends to form an elegant ball/bushy shape, which makes it very interesting for small gardens and container growing.

Indicative size

Observed orders of magnitude depending on sources and training:

• around 1.5 m is often given as a benchmark in restricted cultivation / on a still-young plant,

• some references indicate a 2.5–4 m long-term potential in the ground,

• the spread can become close to the height on a well-established specimen.

Exposure

Bright partial shade or gentle sun. A sheltered position (dry winds, scorching sun) helps keep the foliage clean.

Origin & history

The name is often interpreted as an evocation of “red nails”, referring to the purple-red tips at budbreak. Several spellings are found: ‘Tsuma-gaki’, ‘Tsuma gaki’ or ‘Tsumagaki’ depending on catalogues.