Mikawa yatsubusa
‘Mikawa yatsubusa’ is a famous dwarf Japanese maple, celebrated for its very compact habit and its “layered” foliage: leaves packed on short internodes, creating a shingled, tile-roof effect. In spring it starts a pale yellow-green, becomes bright green in summer, then autumn blazes in orange, gold and red. A collector cultivar, perfect in a pot, in a rock garden, and highly sought after for bonsai.
Character & interest
The main strength of ‘Mikawa yatsubusa’ is its structure: even when young, it already looks “architectural”. The leaves are very tightly packed, overlapping to form tiers that remain decorative all season. It’s also an excellent choice if you want a very compact maple without losing the “small tree” effect.
Colours
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Spring : pale yellow-green to soft green foliage.
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Summer : bright green (often luminous).
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Autumn : orange, gold and red (often multicoloured).
Habit & vigour
Dwarf habit, very well branched, slow growth. Naturally dense silhouette, easy to keep contained in a container.
Indicative size
Order of magnitude: often around 1 to 1.2 m (or a little more) in some horticultural references, but you also find plants listed closer to 1.5 to 2 m (sometimes more with age in the ground). In a pot, it generally stays smaller.
Exposure
Bright partial shade or gentle sun. Good light enhances the compact effect and autumn colours, but a position sheltered from scorching sun and drying wind improves foliage quality in a container.
| Groupe MS | 11. Palmatum |
|---|---|
| Habit | Érigé compact |
| Vigueur | Lente |
| Taille 10 ans | Petit (1-2m) |
| Forme de feuille | Palmate |
| Couleur Printemps | Jaune-vert |
| Couleur Été | Green |
| Couleur Automne | Jaune / Orange / Rouge |
| Size / Grade | C1, C1.5, C10, C2, C3, C5, C7.5, P9 |
