Omure yama

Character & interest

‘Omure yama’ stands out first and foremost for its silhouette: it is not a creeping dissectum, but a tree that keeps an upright framework and then “dresses itself” with pendulous branches over the years. The effect is very decorative near a pathway, where you can enjoy the movement and the fine texture of the leaves.

Colours

• Spring : green foliage, often with orange edges on the young leaves.

• Summer : bright green.

• Autumn : gold and orange, often mixed with red (sometimes crimson).

Habit & vigour

Good vigour. Upright habit when young, then weeping/cascading: the branches become pendulous, with an overall rounded silhouette.

Indicative size

Order of magnitude: often around 2 m at about 10 years, then more like 3 to 5 m in many gardens, with the potential to grow taller in favourable conditions (the “cascading” behaviour remains the cultivar’s signature). Spread can become substantial if the tree is left unpruned.

Exposure

Gentle sun / bright partial shade. Light enhances the colours, but protection from scorching sun and dry wind is helpful, especially in a container.

Origin & history

Japanese cultivar, often explained as being named after Mount Omure in Japan. Some sources indicate an introduction by the Koichiro Wada nursery (Japan).