Acer palmatum 'Deshojo' Red Japanese Maple

'Deshojo' is an upright Japanese maple with deeply lobed palmate leaves that emerge brilliant red in spring, fade to olive-green by mid-summer, and return to fiery red in autumn before leaf drop. It reaches 10-12 feet in height and width at maturity and is valued equally for landscape display and bonsai cultivation. According to the growers at Mr Maple, 'Deshojo' is among the most heat-tolerant red Japanese maples and is distinguished by exceptionally small foliage that responds well to bonsai pinch-back techniques; it has been a cornerstone of bonsai literature and practice for decades due to its durability, excellent growth rate, ease of air-layering, and unmatched ability to display seasonal color change, a quality that appeals to both bonsai artists seeking to replicate natural phenology and gardeners seeking dramatic spring display.