Acer palmatum ‘Purple Ghost’ Japanese Maple

‘Purple Ghost’ Japanese Maple is a highly popular variety in the Ghost Series, developed and introduced by Talon Buchholz of Buchholz Nursery in Gaston, Oregon. Its vibrant color gives it great seasonal appeal, and its small size makes it an excellent choice for a property with limited space.
‘Purple Ghost’ is an upright, wide-spreading Japanese maple with a vigorous growth rate of 12″-18″ per year, becoming 10′ × 6′ in 10 years. Deeply divided red leaves emerge in the spring with dark purple-black veins and ruffled, purple edges. They are brighter in the sun but more of a lavender color in partial shade. By summer, the leaves darken to red-purple with green overtones, blazing into fiery orange-red in the fall. With its three seasons of brilliant color, this popular tree is superb as a bright focal point in the garden, on either side of an entrance, in an Asian garden, or a container.
Plant it in full sun to partial shade in moist, rich, slightly acidic, well-draining soil. The foliage will be brightest in full sun and lighter colored in partial shade. However, in the southernmost areas of its 5-9 hardiness zones, ‘Purple Ghost’ may do best in direct morning light and partial shade to shade in the hot afternoon sun.
Water it well at planting, then weekly for a season, and more often during dry weather. This tree prefers moist soil and should not be allowed to dry out. However, the soil must be able to drain because Japanese maples do not do well in soggy, saturated soil. Container-grown trees must be watered more frequently than trees grown in the garden since their soil dries out more quickly. This tree will be moderately drought-tolerant once established. In the fall, mulch at the base of the tree will protect the roots in the cold weather.
Companion plants need cultural requirements similar to those of ‘Purple Ghost.’ Solid-color trees and shrubs planted nearby will be a backdrop for the tree’s bright colors. Azaleas, rhododendrons, yews, arborvitae, junipers, pines, and hemlocks provide a dark green background for the tree. Flowering perennials, such as anemones, hellebores, astilbes, peonies, hostas, pachysandra, iris, and spring bulbs, give a spot of color and interest beneath and around the tree.
‘Purple Ghost’ Japanese Maple is a stunning addition to a garden. In addition to its gorgeous color, it is heat, deer, and insect resistant and is tolerant of sun, wind, and urban pollution.