1 / 3Key characteristics
- Classification
- Upright Japanese maple
- Height
- 12 to 16 feet
- Width
- 8 to 12 feet
- Flower color
- Reddish purple
- Foliage color
- Purple-red to burgundy, turning brilliant red in fall
- Bloom time
- Mid spring
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 5 to 8
Trees
Acer palmatum 'Sherwood Flame'
Sherwood Flame Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Sherwood Flame' is an upright Japanese maple valued for richly colored foliage throughout the growing season. Deeply divided, serrated leaves emerge purple-red in spring, becoming a deeper red to burgundy as they mature and holding their color well through summer. Small reddish-purple flowers appear in spring, followed by winged samaras that add subtle seasonal interest. In autumn, the foliage intensifies to brilliant shades of red before falling, revealing the tree's graceful branching structure.
Works well in
- Woodland Gardens
- Courtyard Gardens
- Foundation Plantings
- Japanese Gardens
- Mixed Borders
Companion plants
Rhododendron · Pieris · Oakleaf hydrangea · Hellebore · Japanese forest grass · Epimedium · Foamflower
Design tip
Give 'Sherwood Flame' a position where its silhouette can be appreciated from several directions. A quieter layer of green and gold foliage around its base allows the red canopy to remain the focal point while creating contrast through the entire growing season.