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Photo by Dancing Oaks Nursery

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Buy Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost'

Also Known As

Purple Ghost Japanese Maple

Plant type

tree

size

H: 10'-15'
W: 6'-8'

planting zones

6a-9b

1 gallon pot | $42.8

Avail in US except West Coast, HI/AK

Fewer than 7 at Maples N More Nursery

#3 Container | $134.99

Buy button links to nursery site for checkout

Fewer than 20 at Conifer Kingdom

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Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' plant details

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' is a moderate-growing broadleaf deciduous tree with purple and red foliage. Attracts beneficial insects and birds. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something humidity tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost'

Plant type: tree
Plant family: sapindaceae
Foliage: deciduous purple and red
Mature size: 6 FT - 8 FT - wide, 10 FT - 15 FT - tall
Uses: container plant, fall color, goth garden, small tree

GROWING CONDITIONS for Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost'

USDA Zones: 6a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: humidity
Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

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Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Contrasting veins and crumpled margins give the foliage of this semi-upright Japanese maple a distinctive look. In spring, the red leaves display dark purple veins

By: Conifer Kingdom

A knock-out in summer with DEEP purple foliage veined in black (when grown in sun), this upright (20-30') maple steals the show again in fall when it turns orange-to-red. S-PSh/M

By: Forestfarm

Purple Ghost Japanese Maple is a stunning specimen with deep purple-red reticulated leaves with black veining in the spring. Summer leaves fade to green while keeping the purple undertones. Fall color is deep crimson. Leaves will be darker in more sun. It's compact size makes it ideal for smaller gardens. Purple Ghost Japanese Maple is the most popular of the 'Ghost' series. There's nothing scary about this ghost!

By: Maples N More Nursery

Purple Ghost' Japanese Maple features bright purple-red leaves in the spring that mature to a light pink-red in the summer, then finally developing a fiery orange-red in the fall. Although the name references the purple hues of the leaves in the spring, we actually find the pink summer color to be a bigger talking point in the landscape.
Care and Receiving Your Tree

Like with other plants that are shipped bare root, you should plant your tree as soon as possible. When planting be sure to spread the roots out a little so they are not clumped together at the bottom of the hole. Japanese Maples want the top of their root crown to be covered with just an inch of soil - be careful not to apply heavy mulch directly on top of the roots as this can suffocate them. Water heavily as soon as you plant your tree but after that be careful not to over-water this beautiful specimen - Japanese Maples prefer long but less frequent watering. During the growing season we water our established trees for two hours once per week, depending on the climate and how hot/dry the weather is (maybe a little more frequently during the hottest part of the year and less frequently during spring and fall when it is cooler). If you are growing your Japanese Maples in containers be sure to use a well-drained soil mix (not peat or compost based, bark based soils do best) and water whenever the soil starts to dry out.

Japanese Maples do best when fertilized in the spring, we recommend a slow release pellet like Osmocote Plus in April. Don't apply fertilizer later than mid-June because it will encourage too much late season growth that will not have time to harden off enough for winter. The exact formula doesn't matter too much, we usually use 15-10-10 but any other works fine for Japanese Maples. Osmocote is the brand we use because it releases steadily for several months and so there is very little risk of over-fertilizing your plants.

By: Red Panda Nursery

Purple Ghost is another in the Ghost series developed by Talon Buchholz at Buchholz Nursery in Gaston, Oregon. This is a dark purple beauty that grows in the shape of a medium sized tree. The new growth ranges from lavender to dark purple depending upon the sun or shade location. With more sun the leaf color is deep purple changing to a greenish purple hue in the summer. Secondary growth in late summer is once again a strong purple color. The reticulated leaves often appear ruffled. The term reticulated relates to the visibility of the veins in the leaves. The dark purple color of the leaves in the spring fades to a lighter green color which highlights the secondary late summer growth – again deep purple. In the fall the leaves turn to a brilliant purple red. Purple Ghost is a relatively fast growing maple with a growth habit more like a tree than a bush. Height in 10 years is 12′ and with a 10′ wide canopy. Once established this cultivar is hardy to -20 degrees – USDA Zone 5. A collector’s must.

By: Eastfork Nursery

Small to medium sized deciduous tree with an upright, rounded habit. This cultivar is among the Ghost series from Buchholz Nursery in Oregon. Deep purple-red leaves have prominent black veins. In the fall the foliage is a wonderful combination of orange and scarlet. This tree will be sure to make a statement in any garden. Growth Rate medium

By: Garden World

A wonderful new introduction! The spring leaves of Purple Ghost emerge deep red with an even deeper purple-red variegation. The summer color is a nice red with purple-red veining and margins. Fall brings a wonderful array of orange and scarlet's.This tree is scary cool!

By: Maplestone Ornamentals

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' - Great newer variety that gives lots of two tone variegation all season long. Plant in sun or shade to get many different colors. Vigorous grower that is also wind resistant. A must have!

By: Kigi Nursery

Deep purple-red leaves with prominent black veins, turn fiery-red to orange in fall. Zones 6-9.

By: Lael's Moon Garden

A truly unique cultivar with strong leaf veining overlaid by various colors. Great seasonal appeal! Reticulated variegation is more pronounced on new growth, diminishing as season progresses and leaves mature. Quite sun and wind tolerant. Grows vigorously.

By: Bloom River Gardens

Purple Ghost is the most sought after of the ghost series; a seedling of Kasagiyama, it has the same purple brick color with dark veining, but the tree is better shaped and holds its colors throughout the summer. None of my photos have turned out, but you can see good pics on Google Images, and I will keep trying for this page. Well, another year has gone by without my taking a good photo, but Michael Healy has lent me this one which shows sort of a midseason color. This is a very vigorous tree.

By: Whitman Farms

MATSUMURAE, red. Deep purple, almost black veins, add great texture to the glistening purple foliage of summer. Its hard to believe, but these same cool, dark leaves come afire in the fall in shades of hot orange to scarlet.

By: Greer Gardens Inc.

Introduced by Acer palmatum grower and expert Talon Buchholz who has a keen eye for variations, sports, mutations and simply darned good plants. Talon spotted this standing oput among the crowd with its purple red spring leaves illustrated by dep purple veins followed by fiery orange and reds in the fall. A medium sized upright tree.

By: Far Reaches Farm

One of the early introductions in the Ghost series with leaves that are a feast for the eyes with red & purple leaves with prominent veins. 10 ft tall and wide.

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

Deep purple veins are almost black. Leaves change from purple to almost pink at the margins and are almost totally purple in late summer. This ghost grows in full sun or semi-shade.