Sekka yatsubusa
‘Sekka yatsubusa’ is a compact Japanese maple with a dense habit, notable for its clustered buds and very short internodes: the leaves seem “gathered” along the shoots, creating a naturally knobbly, graphic silhouette. The foliage is green (often glossy), sometimes with reddish petioles and a slight rusty edging at budbreak. As it ages, it may produce fasciated shoots (flattened), which are highly decorative. Autumn colour ranges from yellow to yellow-orange, and can sometimes reach red depending on the year.
Character & interest
‘Sekka yatsubusa’ is prized above all for its structure: short shoots, tight buds, small clusters of leaves… The whole plant has a compact, almost sculptural look. The possible presence of fasciations (flattened, ribbon-like growth on certain shoots) adds to its collector appeal, especially on slightly older specimens.
Colours
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Spring : light green to vivid green; depending on conditions, rusty margins and red petioles may be visible.
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Summer : a deeper green, often glossy.
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Autumn : usually yellow; may develop orange and sometimes red (variable with climate and exposure).
Habit & vigour
Upright to bushy habit, very dense. When young, growth is often slow; once established, it can become more vigorous while keeping its compact character.
Indicative size
Sources give variable orders of magnitude depending on conditions:
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around 1 to 1.5 m at 10 years in “compact” cultivation (pot/small garden),
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up to about 2.5 m at 10 years in good conditions,
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and a long-term potential close to 2.5–3 m (or slightly more).
Exposure
Gentle sun / bright partial shade. It can tolerate more sun if the soil stays cool, but protection from scorching sun and dry wind improves foliage quality, especially in a container.
| Groupe MS | 11. Palmatum |
|---|---|
| Habit | Bushy |
| Vigueur | Lente |
| Taille 10 ans | Petit (1-2m) |
| Forme de feuille | Palmate |
| Couleur Printemps | Vert clair |
| Couleur Été | Green |
| Couleur Automne | Jaune / Orange |
| Exposure | Mi-ombre |
| Size / Grade | C1, C1.5, C10, C2, C3, C5, C7.5, P9 |
