Acer 'Emperor One' is a small (up to 15 feet tall and wide) deciduous tree that lends all season interest to the garden. Small reddish-purple flowers bloom in spring, followed by large, but delicate, wine colored leaves. The palmate leaves, typically 5-7 serrate, deeply cut lobes, hold their color through summer and turn scarlet in fall. Blackish red bark accents its attractive structural branches, so it maintains winter interest.
As a specimen tree, this Acer 'Emperor One' makes the perfect focal point in a Japanese or cottage garden, but to accentuate its beauty, group them in the landscape around the home or on the periphery of a woodland area. Sheltered sites, protected from strong winds, with dappled sunlight are best. In the cooler climates of its growing range, it can be grown in full sun, preferably with afternoon shade. In warmer, drier climates, it should be planted in partial shade and mulched around the base to keep the roots moist and cool and to prevent leaf scorch.
It requires very little maintenance. Fertilize in spring and prune, if necessary, in the dormant season.
To maximize the benefits of water, fertilizer, and mulch we suggest using the Greenwell™ Water Saver
