Acer oliverianum ‘Hot Sauce’ Japanese Maple

'Hot Sauce' is a hybrid between Acer oliverianum and A. palmatum, selected for its exceptional heat tolerance and sustained red coloration. The leaves emerge bright red with maroon undertones in spring, deepen to dark red through early summer, and transition to scarlet-red in fall; under intense all-day sun the color may fade to muddy green by mid-to-late summer, but afternoon shade helps prolong red pigmentation into autumn. This upright tree reaches 10-12 feet at maturity, growing approximately one foot per year, and performs best with morning to midday sun and afternoon shade in hot climates, though it can tolerate full sun better than most red Japanese maples due to its oliverianum parentage. According to the growers at Mr Maple, this cultivar was originally discovered as a seedling by Masayoshi Nakahara at World Maple Park in Japan and introduced to the trade as part of their Heat Seeker series; it leafs out slightly later than typical Japanese maples, offering protection against late spring frosts in regions prone to them.