Acer palmatum 'Mayday' Rare Dwarf Japanese Maple

'Mayday' is a dwarf cultivar with a distinctly compact, densely layered growth habit that reaches approximately 3 feet tall and wide in ten years. New spring foliage emerges in yellow to peach tones, lasting 10 to 3 weeks depending on temperature and rainfall, before transitioning through chartreuse-green in summer and fading to yellow or red-tinged tones in fall. The shingle-like leaf arrangement and notably slow growth distinguish it from the related Mikawa yatsubusa, which traditionally leafs out green. According to Gardening With Maples, 'Mayday' is a Mikawa yatsubusa variant that performs best with morning to early afternoon sun (roughly 7 or 8 a.m. to 1-3 p.m.), where the chartreuse summer color holds most vividly; it thrives in containers and in-ground, though potted specimens lose one to two hardiness zones and require protection in zones 5-6.