Acer japonicum 'Mai Kujaku' Maple

Acer japonicum 'Mai Kujaku' – Elegant Japanese Maple with Peacock-Like Foliage

Product Description:

• Scientific Name: Acer japonicum 'Mai Kujaku'
• Common Name: Mai Kujaku Japanese Maple, Peacock Dove Maple
• Family: Sapindaceae
• Growth Zones: USDA zones 5–8
• Mature Height: 2.4–3 m (8–10 ft)
• Mature Width: 2–3 m (6–10 ft)
• Growth Rate: Moderate, upright with spreading crown
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade (afternoon shade in hot climates)
• Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic
• Watering: Regular moisture; avoid waterlogging
• Temperature Tolerance: Hardy, tolerates urban air pollution

Key Features:

• Deeply cut palmate leaves resembling peacock feathers, highly ornamental
• Seasonal colors: red-tinged spring leaves, yellow-green in summer, and brilliant red in fall
• Gray bark with vertical fissures adds winter interest
• Spring red flowers followed by winged samaras in late summer to autumn
• Tolerant of ozone and sulfur dioxide, making it ideal for urban plantings

Care Tips:

• Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade to protect leaves from scorch
• Water: Maintain even soil moisture; mulch to retain humidity
• Ventilation: Allow space for spreading branches and airflow
• Pruning: Prune in late fall or early spring to shape and remove weak branches
• Pests: Generally resilient; monitor for aphids and scale

Notes:

Acer japonicum 'Mai Kujaku', also known as the Peacock Dove Maple, is admired for its deeply cut, feather-like leaves that dance in the breeze like peacock feathers. Its seasonal transformation is remarkable—from red-flushed spring growth, to summer’s yellow-green canopy, to glowing scarlet in fall. With its pollution tolerance and manageable size, it is ideal for private gardens, urban courtyards, patios, and as a feature in landscape design. A rare and elegant choice for Japanese maple collectors.