ORANGEOLA JAPANESE MAPLE

Orangeola Japanese Maple is one of the most outstanding laceleaf dissectums because of its unique orange color, thus the name Orangeola. It is known for its bright spring foliage and its delicately cascading branches. The leaves have a somewhat glossy appearance that adds to its beauty as the Sun shines through the tree. Orangeola’s finely dissected orange-red leaves make it a very special tree to display. The orange colored leaves turn to a rich red-green as summer approaches. Weeks later a new flush of orange leaves arrive and continue throughout the summer. As the fall season arrives Orangeola’s leaves turn dark red before turning a beautiful orange-red. Orangeola performs well in the Sun, especially compared to other laceleaf cultivars. Orangeola is a vigorous grower, yet is one of the smaller laceleaf dissectums.

Zone: 5 – 8

Mature Size: 8 – 10 ft. Tall  x 6 – 8 ft. Wide

Growing Tips

Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Partial Sun

Orangeola Japanese Maple has a dense mounding habit, with orange new growth that turns dark green in mid summer. The second flush is more orange and contrasts wonderfully with the older dark green foliage. Fall color is a bright orange-red.

One of the most outstanding cascading dissectums to be introduced in the 1980s, this cultivar is noted especially for the bright orange-red new foliage in spring. ‘Orangeola’ manages to keep an orange flush on the leaves as they turn a rich red green through the summer. This coloration is boosted by a second flush of orange leaves in midsummer, and the two-tone summer color ends with the leaves becoming dark red before turning fiery orange red in the fall, and holding this colorful display later than most.

The large leaves are 6-9 cm long and 7-11 cm wide. The five or seven lobes are deeply incised to the leaf base, where they are barely wider than the midribes. Each lobe is itself deeply incised into broader toothed sublobes. The lobes, together with their sublobes, are up to 7 cm long by 3 cm broad and quite widespreading. The short, slender red petioles are 2-3 cm long and have hooked swollen bases.

‘Orangeola’, although vigorous, is one of the smaller dissectums, barely more than 3 m high when fully grown. It is more upright and less spreading than most dissectums, forming an attractive cascading mound, usually taller than wide.

Orangeola Japanese Maple is best grown in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Grows well in sandy loams. May be grown in full sun in the northern parts of its growing range, but prefers some part afternoon shade in the southern parts of its growing range. New foliage may scorch in full sun locations in hot summers areas, particularly if soils are not kept consistently moist. Mulch helps retain soil moisture and keep roots cool. Site in locations protected from strong winds. Avoid hot and dry sites. Fertilize in spring before leaves emerge. Pruning is best kept to a minimum, but if needed should be done in late fall to mid-winter. Spring or summer pruning often results in significant bleeding.

See all our Japanese Maples. For more information on Japanese Maples, we recommend Japanese Maples: The Complete Guide to Selection and Cultivation.

Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 5.00 to 8.00 feet
Spread: 4.00 to 5.00 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Description: Orange
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Insignificant
Leaf: Colorful, Good Fall