Marakumo

Character & interest

‘Marakumo’ belongs to the “subtle but powerful” variegates: the variegation is not in large patches, but in dots and speckles that can sometimes merge, creating almost translucent areas. The result is highly decorative in spring, and the tree remains elegant afterwards thanks to its well-shaped palmate foliage.

Colours

• Spring : green foliage with an abundance of white speckling; pinkish/orange nuances may appear on the very young leaves depending on conditions.

• Summer : the plant becomes greener; the variegation often remains visible but more discreet.

• Autumn : orange to red colours (variable depending on exposure and the year).

Habit & vigour

Rather upright habit, with fairly regular branching. Moderate vigour (often described as quite restrained).

Indicative size

As a guide: around 2.5 to 3 m at about 10 years in good conditions, with similar spread. (Variable with climate, soil and training, and generally more compact in a pot.)

Exposure

Bright partial shade recommended. Variegated foliage is more sensitive: protection from scorching sun (especially in the afternoon) helps limit scorch on the white areas. A well-drained soil that stays cool in summer is ideal.

Origin & history

Presented as a Japanese selection. The name is generally interpreted as “gathering of clouds”, which matches well the speckled, changeable look of the foliage.

Note (name & confusion)

The cultivar with white speckling is very often distributed under the name ‘Murakumo’, and some sources indicate that ‘Marakumo’ is a spelling variant used for the same maple, which is false.
‘Murakumo’ is in fact a totally different purple cultivar from ‘Marakumo’.