Acer palmatum ‘Manyo no sato’ Japanese Maple

This stunning, semi-dwarf Japanese maple makes an excellent addition to small gardens and containers. ‘Manyo no sato’ was introduced in 1993 in Japan and made popular by Yutaka Tunaka at Tsukasa Nursery in Toyko. In Japanese, Manyo no sato means “wonderful village of nature” or “village of 10,000 leaves,” highlighting its beauty and fullness.
In spring, this exquisite tree’s long, deeply cut leaves emerge in maroon with chartreuse variegated edges. During the summer, they become darker purple-red with green edges in partial shade but turn greener in full sun. In fall, the foliage explodes in a fiery red-orange display.
‘Manyo no sato’ is a semi-dwarf tree growing 9″-12″ per year, reaching a height and width of 8′ × 6′ in 10 years. Its red flowers attract pollinators in the spring, and birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and other small mammals feast on the red samaras in the late summer and fall. However, deer tend to leave the tree alone.
‘Manyo no sato’ is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. It will grow in either sun or partial shade in the cooler climates within its range. But in southern climates, it does best in morning sun with afternoon shade, or in all-day dappled sun. Japanese maples need moist, well-draining soil, so you’ll need to water it well at planting and then weekly until it is established. Keeping the soil moist but well-draining so it is never soggy is essential since Japanese maples will not thrive in wet conditions. The pH of the soil needs to be neutral to slightly acidic for them to thrive. In alkaline or salty soils, however, the leaves may turn yellow.
In your garden, trees and perennials planted around and near the Japanese maple should have similar sun, soil, and water requirements and be on the smaller side to keep a similar scale. Chinese juniper, arborvitae, and dwarf pines and spruces provide a dark green backdrop for the Japanese maple, while foliage perennials, such as ferns, hostas, Hakone grass, and black mondo grass, offer texture and an anchor of color around the tree.
Flowering shrubs planted nearby bring a flush of color during the spring and early summer, such as dogwood, rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurel, Virginia sweetspire, Japanese flowering cherry, and Japanese snowbells. Under the tree, flowering perennials, such as coral bells, hellebores, astilbes, and sedums, add texture, color, and interest, while ground covers, like ajuga, vinca, wild ginger, barrenwort, and pachysandra provide a living carpet under the tree.