or as we call it
Acer japonicum 'Mai-kujaku'
A new inhabitant of our garden, planted today. Two days ago we drove from south-east Ireland, almost 500 kilometers, to pick up the tree at Lucan Garden Centre near Dublin.
From a sturdy bush, it can grow into a small or medium-sized, multi-stemmed tree. The broad crown eventually becomes virtually round. The relatively large leaves have deeply dissected lobes. Despite the sturdy leaves, 'Mai-kujaku' does not have a heavy appearance. In autumn, the mat, mid-green leaves turn brilliant yellow and orange to deep dark red or even purplish-red. It is an old Japanese cultivar, that is sold under a variety of synonyms. The tree became so widespread in Europe that the European cultivar name 'Aconitifolium' gained preference over the Japanese name Mai-kujaku', which means 'dancing peacock'. Other synonyms are 'Fern leaf', 'Filicifolium', 'Palmatifidum' and 'Veitchii'.
Photographs © Hans van den Bos
