Description
Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’ is one of the first Japanese maples (along with Acer palmatum ‘Katsura’) to emerge in the spring, producing bright orange foliage as it does so. The brilliant colours fade after a few weeks to a pale lemony yellow but any new growth put on during the growing season will always have an edge of orange about it. It is not a fan of a hot, sunny position and you will get the best from this tree if you can protect it from the afternoon sun – a site which receives half-sun to half-shade would be ideal. Autumn will bring with it a fabulous change in the colouring to burnt oranges and golds.
Keep an eye out for late frosts which can damage the early foliage – I have been known to dash outside when a frost is forecast in order to administer some horticultural fleece (just to be on the safe side!).
‘Orange Dream’ is a relatively fast-growing tree, adding a good 20 to 30cm in height each year and finally reaching around 4 to 5 metres after twenty years or so. Of course, this size will be reduced in a container where its roots are restricted or if it is kept pruned.