Acer palmatum 'Bazinga' Japanese Maple

'Bazinga' is a dwarf Mikawa group cultivar with palmate leaves that emerge bright red in spring, often developing yellow veining and two-tone variegation with yellow sections on new growth, before transitioning to green through summer and orange in autumn. The tree maintains a tightly layered, compact habit suitable for containers and small garden spaces. According to the growers at Mr Maple, 'Bazinga' was introduced by collector Ed Shin, who selected it as the finest red among four numbered Mikawa seedlings originating from Buck Holtz Nursery; the cultivar's name references the catchphrase from *The Big Bang Theory*. Best color develops in half-day sun and in-ground planting; trees started in heavy shade may display more green veining and yellow coloration, a conditional trait rather than a stable variegation, with overall appearance influenced by sun exposure and growing conditions.