Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' is a reticulated Japanese maple with prominent dark purple veining on leaves that shift through the growing season: spring emergence ranges from bright red to deep purple depending on light exposure, summer brings burgundy and lavender tones, and fall color deepens to fuchsia red or reddish-orange. This upright cultivar reaches approximately 8-10 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide with moderate growth of roughly one foot per year; its canopy is more open and spreading than other ghost-series members, creating an enchanting form. According to the growers at Mr Maple, this cultivar was selected by Talon Buchholz at Buchholz Nursery and became the founding member of the influential Ghost series, which transformed Japanese maple collecting worldwide; all modern Purple Ghost plants are clones from this original specimen. The cultivar is easy to grow and pairs well in gardens with contrasting yellow maples such as Summer Gold; young plants thrive with early morning sun and afternoon shade, though established specimens develop greater sun tolerance.