Beni otake

Character & interest

A highly sought-after cultivar for its texture: the “bamboo” effect is immediate, even in a restrained garden. It is an excellent alternative to dissectums when you want fine foliage, but with a more upright, more architectural habit.

Colours

• Spring : red to purplish red.

• Summer : burgundy / purple (some plants may partially green up later in the season depending on exposure).

• Autumn : crimson red.

Habit & vigour

Upright habit (often vase-shaped when young), with rather vertical branching and more horizontal laterals. Steady vigour.

Indicative size

References vary with climate and training:

• ~2.5 m / 10 years,

• up to ~4–4.5 m / 15 years in favourable conditions.
  Ultimately, usually a small tree of 3–6 m (variable).

Exposure

Gentle sun / bright partial shade. This cultivar is often presented as more sun-tolerant than many red maples, but a position sheltered from drying winds remains ideal to keep the foliage clean (very fine lobes).

Origin & history

The Japanese name is generally translated as “red bamboo”. It is a chance seedling selected by Ed Wood and introduced by T.C Plants Company (Hillsboro, Oregon).