Aoba jo
‘Aoba jo’ is a dwarf, very compact Japanese maple with a rounded/bushy habit and very short internodes (a “yatsubusa” look, close in spirit to ‘Mikawa yatsubusa’). The foliage often starts out bronze in spring, matures to green in summer, then turns beautiful golden-yellow to orange/red tones in autumn. An excellent choice for containers and very well suited to bonsai.
Character & interest
A collector cultivar valued for its structure: dense growth, a naturally tidy silhouette, without a “large tree” effect. The leaves are generally rounder and less uniform than ‘Mikawa yatsubusa’ (some may slightly curl), which gives a lively look despite the compact habit.
Colours
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Spring : bronze budbreak, sometimes tinged with orange/pink; the tips may remain bronze/reddish against a lighter background.
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Summer : green (often deep green), sometimes with a bronze tint along the edges depending on exposure.
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Autumn : yellow to golden yellow, then often orange to red depending on conditions.
Habit & vigour
Compact, rounded habit, tight branching, steady vigour (more “dense” than fast-growing).
Indicative size
Order of magnitude: ~1 m in the medium term (5–10 years), potentially reaching 1–2 m with age depending on conditions and training.
Exposure
Best results in gentle sun or bright partial shade. In hot situations, protection from scorching sun (late afternoon) helps keep the foliage looking cleaner.
| Groupe MS | 17. Witches Broom |
|---|---|
| Habit | Globulaire |
| Vigueur | Lente |
| Taille 10 ans | Nain (<1m) |
| Forme de feuille | Palmate |
| Couleur Printemps | Green |
| Couleur Été | Green |
| Couleur Automne | Orange / Rouge |
| Exposure | Mi-ombre |
| Size / Grade | C1, C1.5, C10, C2, C3, C5, C7.5, P9 |