Growth Habit & Size
Upright · Weeping
Upright main framework with pendulous outer branches. The Weeping selection describes the outer growth, not a fully cascading crown.
PUNGO MAPLES
Virginia Beach Japanese Maple Nursery
Azuma Murasaki
Acer palmatum
● In Stock
Cultivar Description & Characteristics
Azuma Murasaki is a vigorous upright Japanese maple known for its deep purple spring foliage that retains its rich tones well into the season. The leaves feature sharply pointed lobes and a refined, elegant texture that casts a graceful, open shade. As summer transitions to fall, the dark purple canopy shifts into vibrant shades of bright crimson and violet. It is an exceptionally hardy and reliable performer in various landscape conditions.
10-Yr Height
10.0
10-Yr Width
8.0
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Purple
Summer: Dark Green-Purple
Fall: Crimson
Sun Tolerance Ratings
Morning Sun
9 / 10
Afternoon Sun
7 / 10
☀️ Morning Sun Guidance:
Morning sun enhances the deep purple spring foliage and sharp-lobed texture.
☀️ Afternoon Sun Guidance:
Hardy performer that holds its dark tones reasonably well into afternoon conditions.
Image highlights cultivar traits and is not exact photo of available stock. Image is property of Pungo Maples, unauthorized use prohibited.
Get to know your maple
What do these growth habit terms mean?
More than one term can apply. Branch direction, crown shape and size describe different characteristics, and the outline can change as a tree matures.
- Upright
- Main stems and branches emphasize upward growth. An upright tree can still develop a broad canopy.
- Spreading
- Branches extend outward to form a broad canopy. The tree does not have to be wider than it is tall.
- Weeping
- Branches or branchlets arch or hang downward. The tree can still have an upright trunk.
- Rounded
- The crown has a rounded outline. This describes the overall shape rather than the direction of each branch.
- Dwarf
- A cultivar with a smaller natural stature than typical forms of its species. Dwarf describes size, not branch direction or a fixed height limit; it does not automatically mean slow growth.
For example: Bloodgood can grow upright while developing a broad, rounded canopy with spreading branches.
Learn more: NC State plant forms · Bloodgood profile · RHS trees for smaller gardens
Roots & heritage
The story behind Azuma Murasaki
- Cultivar origin
- Japan; eastern Japan according to MrMaple's historical account
Azuma Murasaki is an old Japanese cultivar whose recorded history predates any documented modern introduction. MrMaple reports that it appeared in the Sekihin Binran in 1882, while Maplestone Ornamentals independently describes it as first recorded in Japan that year. This is evidence of an early listing, not a verified selection or commercial introduction date. MrMaple explains that 'Azuma' refers to eastern Japan and 'murasaki' to its purple-red coloration; the exact selection site remains undocumented. The Royal Horticultural Society accepts the name 'Azuma-murasaki', places it in the Matsumurae group, and lists 'Toshi' as a synonym. No reliable account reviewed identifies its original selector, hybridizer, parents, or originating collection. Patent and cultivar-related registered-trademark status remain unverified; no royalty or public-domain conclusion follows.
Explore the sources behind this story
MrMaple: Azuma murasaki; reported 1882 Sekihin Binran listing, eastern Japanese origin, and name explanationMaplestone Ornamentals: Azuma murasaki; first recorded in Japan in 1882Royal Horticultural Society: Azuma-murasaki; accepted name, Matsumurae classification, and Toshi synonymUSPTO Patent Public Search; registry accessed, but cultivar-specific patent status not verifiedUSPTO Trademark Search; registry accessed, but cultivar-related registered-trademark status not verified
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