Musashino

Character & interest

‘Musashino’ combines dark foliage with a strongly vertical silhouette—very useful when space is limited. With age, the crown tends to become rounder, while keeping a structured look. It is also a purple cultivar often noted for holding well in summer, even in hot weather (as long as the soil stays cool).

Colours

• Spring : red to purple-red, sometimes very bright.

• Summer : deep purple to dark violet / purple-brown (depending on exposure), sometimes with slightly reddish new growth.

• Autumn : crimson red (sometimes red-orange).

Habit & vigour

Very upright habit (often described as “strongly vertical”), then rounder at the top as it ages. Moderate to good vigour; some sources describe it as fairly fast for a purple cultivar.

Indicative size

As a guide: about 3 to 4 m (sometimes more) depending on conditions, with a potential that can reach 6–8 m at maturity in the ground. In a container, growth remains more contained.

Exposure

Gentle sun / bright partial shade. Good light helps maintain the depth of the purple colour. In a hot climate or in a container, protection from scorching sun and dry wind improves foliage quality.

Origin & history

‘Musashino’ is presented as an old Japanese cultivar. Some sources mention it in very old lists (sometimes dated around 1710).