Sode no uchi

Character & interest

This cultivar offers a “full moon” look (rounded, palmate leaves) but on a finer scale thanks to its small leaves, giving a light, elegant silhouette. It is often sought after for its hardiness and its very luminous autumn color.

Colours

• Spring : light green (bright, luminous young leaves).

• Summer : green to deeper green.

• Autumn : bright yellow, often enriched with orange and sometimes red depending on conditions.

Habit & vigour

Rather upright at first, then rounded and broader with age. Moderate to good vigor: steady growth if the soil stays cool in summer, with good performance both in the ground and in containers.

Indicative size

Observed orders of magnitude depending on sources and training:

• often around 2.5 to 3.5 m tall at 10–15 years (variable),

• about 1.5 to 2.5 m wide at that stage,

• in the long term, it can form a broader small tree (depending on conditions and training).

Exposure

Gentle sun / bright partial shade. A sheltered spot protected from dry winds is recommended.

Origin & history

The name is found written as ‘Sode no uchi’ and ‘Sode-no-uchi’. Horticultural references are not fully aligned on its attribution: it is generally marketed as Acer sieboldianum, but it has also been reported in the literature as a selection linked to Acer tenuifolium according to some sources.