Acer palmatum Osakazuki – Maple – 64 cm

Acer palmatum Osakazuki (maple) bonsai, a deciduous species, is one of the Japanese maple varieties most prized by bonsai enthusiasts for the extraordinary autumn colour of its leaves. It is characterised by a broad, harmonious crown, with palmate leaves divided into 5–7 pointed lobes and finely serrated margins. In spring, the new growth appears in shades of light green, before turning a deep, brilliant green during the summer. With the arrival of autumn, it reveals its full splendour: the foliage transforms, passing through shades of gold and orange until it reaches an intense scarlet red-orange, creating a particularly striking display of colour. Once autumn is over, the leaves fall, revealing the structure of the trunk and branches, a feature that allows the quality of the bonsai’s form to be fully appreciated even during the winter months. In spring, the maple may produce small flowers, from which samaras may develop – small winged fruits that can take on reddish hues. Grown in a rectangular, blue-glazed stoneware pot, it contrasts elegantly with the shades of the foliage, enhancing its beauty.