Chitose yama

Character & interest

‘Chitose yama’ plays the “classic red” card, but with a very readable seasonal progression: red start, bronze/green phase, then a very red finale. The habit is rather spreading / dome-shaped, which makes it an excellent accent plant, easy to integrate, including in a container.

Colours

• Spring : young leaves light red to purple, sometimes with a browned/bronze nuance.

• Summer : bronze-green to deep green foliage.

• Autumn : vivid red / crimson / scarlet, very decorative.

Habit & vigour

Broad, rounded habit, with a tendency to become mound-forming (dome-shaped) with age. Moderate to good, steady vigour.

Indicative size

Order of magnitude: 2 to 4 m depending on conditions and training, with a spread that is often substantial (often as wide as it is tall in the long run).

Exposure

Gentle sun to bright partial shade. For good foliage hold: avoid drying winds and overly scorching situations, especially in a pot.

Origin & history

A well-established cultivar in cultivation and award-winning (Award of Garden Merit – RHS).