Osakazuki Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum

Acer palmatum Osakazuki is a fantastic Japanese Maple tree for large gardens. This video looks at many aspects of this exceptional cultivar, including the well-known bright red fall color, the progression from a nursery plant to a mature tree, colors and habit, seeds, air layering, and bonsai uses.

[@bonsaiexpression]

Nice and informative. Beautiful tree. 👍🏻

[@NWMapleBonsai]

Thanks! 🍁

[@rjayt88]

Thanks for the great video and showing the visual comparison of it with a Burning Bush. I think Osakazuki was what started getting me interested in Japanese Maple trees. I saw several trees in the town where I live that it looks like. However, I was looking for it for a while online and at local garden centers. I was surprised that none of my local garden centers had it but I finally found it online last year.

[@NWMapleBonsai]

Thanks for the great comment! I should have mentioned in the video that the shrub next to it was a Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus). In the Pacific NW, the Burning Bush tends to go red sooner than the osakazuki so that helps stretch out the length of time you have fall red color in your garden before all the leaves eventually drop. I’m glad you were able to find an osakazuki - I’m sure you will love it!

[@japanesemaplesbonsai7133]

Love maples. Thanks

[@NWMapleBonsai]

Me too!🍁

[@Bkamemoto]

Wow! Very informative. How often do you prune it?

[@llrainll]

Where is the best place to plant them? 🥺 Thank you for this informative video!

[@NWMapleBonsai]

Thanks! If you mean the tree itself, I suggest a well draining location. Mine has done well in full sunlight in the Pacific Northwest which is why it has grown so large. In partial shade, it may not grow as big. I really love this tree. If you mean the seeds, grow them in shade or partial shade and keep watered in the summer or the seedlings will quickly dry out and die.

[@thorsmith085]

Awesome! Great video and very informative! Would you be willing to sell the osakazuki maple seeds in fall?

[@NWMapleBonsai]

Possibly… are you located in the US?

[@thorsmith085]

@NWMapleBonsai Yes, located in US. Southwestern states.

[@NWMapleBonsai]

I cut out any dead branches every year and thinned it out a few years ago. I’ll probably try to do a few air layers next year and then think about getting the chain saw out and pruning more aggressively. I’d say cutting out a few branches at a time every 3-4 years would work to keep it a bit smaller.

[@japanesemaplesbonsai7133]

I’ve just air layered mine but no roots yet and it’s been 4 months. The top is still alive but now going dormant so I will leave until the spring to see what’s happens.

[@NWMapleBonsai]

I often have the same thing happen. In the spring during leaf out, I am going to squeeze any excess water out of the sphagnum moss, trim back the edge of the callus and apply a stronger rooting hormone. Hopefully we will both have success next year!😁

[@japanesemaplesbonsai7133]

@@NWMapleBonsai I will give that a go if I see no progress in the spring, thanks

[@NWMapleBonsai]

Let me know how it works out - good luck!

[@japanesemaplesbonsai7133]

@@NWMapleBonsai will do a video in spring!

[@valerioguccione]

Hi, what is your climate zone? In twenty years he has grown really well

[@NWMapleBonsai]

I’m in Seattle, WA. It is now in zone 9a since 2023 - similar to northern Florida, apparently. It used to be 8b in 2012. We get a lot of clouds and rain as you expect and my area has sandy soil on a grade that drains well - all good for Japanese Maples.

[@rubber800]

is it possible to bonsai the osakazuki?

[@NWMapleBonsai]

It is possible to create a bonsai out of most Japanese Maples. But the osakazuki may not give you the softer effect that you may see in other varieties. It is a strong grower so the internodes are long and the leaves are large. Some of the seedlings may be better candidates if you can find any with smaller leaves but still retaining the red fall color. 🍁