Acer japonicum 'Ao jutan' Japanese Maple

'Ao jutan' is a weeping form of Acer japonicum with deeply lobed foliage that combines the refined texture of dissectum-type maples with the larger leaves characteristic of the japonicum species. It matures to approximately 2 feet tall with a distinctive spreading, horizontally oriented habit reaching 5-6 feet wide, distinguished by unique hooked branching that creates a creeping, ground-hugging silhouette. Foliage emerges blue-green and transitions through yellow, orange, and red tones in autumn, often displaying multiple colors simultaneously and persisting notably longer than most palmatum cultivars. According to the growers at Mr Maple, this cultivar originated as a seedling selection by Ed Wood, a prominent collector and nurseryman who was later popularized in the trade by Talon Buckholtz of Buckholtz Nursery in Oregon, with all commercial stock descending from a single clone of Wood's original plant. The name 'Ao jutan' translates to "blue-green weeping," reflecting its foliage color and cascading habit.