Acer palmatum 'Usu midori' Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Usu midori' is a rare Japanese maple with notably large, deeply lobed leaves and extraordinary seasonal color dynamics. Spring growth emerges in bold golden yellow with a distinctive soft white-yellow iridescence, particularly on sun-exposed foliage, creating a luminous two-tone effect; mid-summer foliage shifts to chartreuse with bright yellow new growth on successive flushes, then transitions to bright orange-red in fall. The tree develops a spreading, upright form, typically reaching 10-12 feet over ten years. According to the growers at Mr Maple, 'Usu midori' was discovered in Tokyo, Japan in 1988 and remains uncommon in cultivation, especially in larger specimens in North America. This cultivar performs best with dappled or afternoon shade; full all-day sun will fade the prized yellow coloring, whereas morning sun with late afternoon protection preserves the iridescent glow that makes the tree distinctive in the landscape. Its large leaf and bright coloring pair well as a foil to darker-foliaged Japanese maples.