Beni komachi

Character & interest

This cultivar stands out for its clean spring colouring, followed by a calmer evolution in summer. The plant keeps a dense, tidy silhouette, easy to integrate without “taking up all the space”. A good choice for a restrained composition when you want a red accent in spring, without staying permanently red.

Colours

• Spring : cherry red / bright red.

• Summer : tends to green up (often with a red/brown nuance depending on exposure).

• Autumn : red (often scarlet to crimson depending on conditions).

Habit & vigour

Compact habit, rather upright and dense. Moderate vigour.

Indicative size

References vary depending on catalogues:

• around 0.8 m (very dwarf form, according to some European sources),

• up to 3–3.5 m over the longer term in other references.
  In practice, the main appeal remains a restrained development and good performance in a pot (final size depends strongly on the graft point and on growing conditions).

Exposure

Gentle sun / bright partial shade. Light improves the spring colour and autumn display; in hot situations, avoid scorching afternoon sun and dry winds.

Origin & history

The name is Japanese; it is sometimes translated along the lines of “pretty little girl with red hair”. It is sometimes described as a sport of Beni maiko.