Emerald lace

Character & interest

‘Emerald Lace’ stands out for an extremely “lace-like” leaf texture: the segments are very fine, creating a light, refined look. The plant naturally forms a mound-shaped silhouette (cushion/dome), with arching and often pendulous branches. Several sources describe it as robust, with good heat tolerance for a dissectum, making it an excellent choice if you’re looking for an easy-going green laceleaf.

Colours

• Spring : light green to lime foliage, very finely cut, with a fresh, luminous look.

• Summer : deeper emerald green.

• Autumn : red to red-orange (sometimes burgundy / dark red depending on conditions).

Habit & vigour

Spreading, supple dome-shaped habit, with a semi-weeping effect. Good vigour (fast growth for a dissectum).

Indicative size

As a guide: about 2 to 3 m tall eventually, with often significant spread (often wider than tall), potentially reaching 3–5 m in favourable conditions.

Exposure

Gentle sun / bright partial shade; it tolerates full sun in most regions, which is quite remarkable for a dissectum. Sufficient light encourages density and good form, but protection from dry wind is still preferable, especially in a container.

Origin & history

‘Emerald Lace’ was discovered by David Sabo near Charlotte (North Carolina, USA), then introduced into the trade by Del Loucks (Del’s Japanese Maples, Oregon, USA).