Acer palmatum 'Uncle Ghost' Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Uncle Ghost' is a rare and distinctive reticulated Japanese maple prized for its strikingly colorful foliage and intricate veining. The leaves emerge in shades of peach, pink, and bright red, often heavily marked with contrasting darker veins. As the season progresses, the foliage transitions through shades of red, pink, green, and cream, with emerald-green veins creating an intricate, almost lace-like pattern across the leaves. In autumn, ‘Uncle Ghost’ develops beautiful shades ranging from golden yellow and orange to crimson red. With an expected 10-year size of approximately 6–8 ft tall and 4–6 ft wide, this slow-growing, upright-to-broadly upright cultivar is an excellent choice for collectors seeking a rare Ghost Series maple with exceptional seasonal color

Growth Habit: Upright, compact, and gracefully branching, with a broadening canopy as it matures
10-Year Size: Approximately 6–8 ft tall and 4–6 ft wide
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Foliage: Heavily reticulated foliage emerging peach, pink, and red, gradually fading through cream, green, and red tones with contrasting emerald or dark veins
Fall Color: Golden yellow, orange, and crimson red
Origin: Rare reticulated variegated selection of Acer palmatum from the Ghost Series
Light: Morning sun to partial shade; protection from hot afternoon sun is recommended to preserve the intricate variegation and delicate foliage 
Soil: Moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter
Hardiness: Zones 5–9
Best Uses: Collector gardens, Japanese gardens, woodland gardens, specimen plantings, containers, and focal-point landscapes
Best Feature: Dramatic peach-to-pink spring foliage developing into intricately veined cream, green, and red foliage
Garden Interest: Provides exceptional foliage interest from its colorful spring emergence through its intricate summer patterning and spectacular golden-orange to crimson fall display
Why You'll Love It: ‘Uncle Ghost’ is an exceptionally rare and distinctive Ghost Series Japanese maple that combines colorful peach and pink spring growth, intricate reticulated veining, changing cream and green tones, and brilliant golden-to-crimson fall color into a truly eye-catching collector’s tree.