Purple Ghost Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost') | Dramatic Foliage

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Purple Ghost Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Purple Ghost’

A dramatic Japanese maple with deeply divided, ruby-red spring foliage featuring striking black veining, and brilliant orange-red fall color.

$629.00

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Description

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' is a stunning, mid-sized deciduous tree celebrated for its dramatic, deeply divided foliage that emerges in a rich, ruby-red to deep purple hue with prominent black veining, creating an almost ethereal, "ghostly" effect. This vigorous, upright-growing Japanese maple holds its striking color well into summer before the leaves transition to brilliant shades of crimson, orange, and gold in autumn. Its finely dissected, lace-like leaves and elegant, spreading form make it an exceptional focal point for woodland gardens, Asian-inspired landscapes, and mixed borders, where its dramatic coloration can be fully appreciated. Exceptionally hardy and relatively low-maintenance, it thrives in partial shade, making it an outstanding choice for gardeners seeking a reliable, high-impact ornamental tree.

Quick Facts

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Foliage & Flowers: Deeply divided, lace-like leaves emerging ruby-red to deep purple with prominent black veining, maturing to purple-red, then brilliant crimson, orange, and gold in autumn; small, inconspicuous reddish flowers in spring.
Mature Height: 10-15 ft (3-4.5 m) .
Mature Spread: 6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m) .
Growth Rate: Moderate .
Hardiness Zones: USDA 5-9 .
Light Requirement: Partial shade to filtered sun (afternoon shade is essential in hot climates) .
Core Benefits: Dramatic ruby-red spring color, striking black veining, excellent fall color, vigorous upright habit, relatively low-maintenance, ideal specimen tree.
Best Uses: Focal point, woodland gardens, Asian-inspired landscapes, mixed borders, containers, courtyard gardens.

Faqs

Q: How large does 'Purple Ghost' Japanese Maple get?
A: It is a mid-sized tree, typically reaching 10-15 feet in height and 6-8 feet in spread at maturity, with a vigorous, upright growth habit .

Q: What makes the foliage unique?
A: The deeply divided, lace-like leaves emerge in spring with a stunning ruby-red to deep purple color and prominent black veining, creating an almost ethereal, "ghostly" effect. The color holds well into summer before turning brilliant crimson, orange, and gold in autumn.

Q: How much sun does it need?
A: It performs best in partial shade to filtered sun. In hotter climates, protection from harsh afternoon sun is essential to prevent leaf scorch and maintain the richness of its foliage color.

Q: Is it difficult to grow?
A: No, it is relatively low-maintenance and adaptable once established. It prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil and benefits from a layer of mulch to keep its shallow roots cool.

Q: Is it a good choice for a container?
A: Yes, its moderate size and slow growth habit make it an excellent choice for large containers, where its dramatic foliage can be showcased on a patio or deck.

📍 Primary Delivery Area · San Francisco Bay Area

Local delivery across the Bay Area — and beyond.

San Francisco Bay Area is our primary local delivery market. Victory Nursery also serves additional California markets and selected extended delivery areas by arrangement.

Regular local delivery: San Francisco, Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay, Marin, Tracy / Mountain House and surrounding service areas.

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24 Gallon

A heavy nursery size with immediate landscape presence. It can often be moved by one person with a nursery dolly or hand truck, but it is generally too heavy for normal hand carrying.

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Gallon describes the container size, not a guaranteed plant height. Individual plants vary. Contact our nursery for current measurements.

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