'Osakazuki'

 

Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki' is famous for having some of the most brilliant fall color aof all the Japanese maples. It also has some of the largest leaves and can tolerate more heat and sun than many. In Albuquerque, it still needs a sheltered spot and regular moisture. In my yard, the leaves always look a bit ratty by the end of summer. There are better choices for this climate if you want a maple with red fall leaves, although they will look different in tree form, tree size, leaf shape and leaf size. Around town, I've noticed Acer tataricum the Tatar maple looking pretty good. The ones I've seen are multi-trunked and have a rather chunky shrubby appearance rather than the graceful upright trees of the Japanese maple. They also have more of narrow lance-shaped leaf than the hand shaped leaf of 'Osakazuki'. The Tatar maple seems to be much more tolerant of Albuquerque's heat, sun and wind than the Japanese maples. The ones I've seen have turned brilliant red in the fall. There is one called 'Hot Wings' that produces abundant bright red samaras in the summer, looking like a flowering tree. I've also seen a number of Acer grandidentatum (Bigtooth maple) hybrids or selections for sale at the local nurseries. Bigtooth maple is native to the Rocky Mountains, and is a beautiful tree, similar to a sugar maple, but smaller. It is considered by some to be a variant of the sugar maple. It would get too big for my location though. There is also Acer glabrum, the Rocky Mountain maple, which grows in the higher elevations, in mountain valleys in the Sandia mountains here. This is a beautiful tree, but variable coloration in what is available, and also would need a sheltered climate with regular moisture. I do wonder if it would tolerate the Albuquerque climate better than the Japanese maples though. There are also a number of selections that I see available in the local nurseries. My friend just planted an Acer rubrum cultivar, and it appears to be doing well in their hot south facing front yard. I probably should have planted a maple that was better adapted to this climate than 'Osakazuki' but I do love the tree form, leaves and fall color of this tree.