Growth Habit & Size
Upright · Rounded
Upright vase-shaped framework becomes more rounded at the top with age.
PUNGO MAPLES
Virginia Beach Japanese Maple Nursery
Beni Otake
Acer palmatum
● In Stock
☀️ Full Sun
Cultivar Description & Characteristics
Beni Otake is a vigorous, upright grower featuring deeply divided, linear lobes reminiscent of bamboo foliage. The leaves emerge in a rich, dark reddish-purple color in early spring and hold onto their dark hues longer than many other red cultivars. By autumn, the fine-textured foliage transitions into a luminous, bright crimson that lights up the landscape. Its tall, narrow growth profile allows it to fit snugly into tight spaces where vertical color is desired.
10-Yr Height
10.0
10-Yr Width
6.0
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Dark Purple
Summer: Burgundy
Fall: Bright Crimson
Sun Tolerance Ratings
Morning Sun
9 / 10
Afternoon Sun
7 / 10
☀️ Morning Sun Guidance:
Morning sun showcases its rich, dark reddish-purple bamboo-like foliage.
☀️ Afternoon Sun Guidance:
Holds dark linear leaves well, though afternoon protection prevents crisp edges in hot zones.
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 Beni Otake
- Discovered / selected by
- Ed Wood
Acer palmatum 'Beni Otake', commonly called Red Bamboo Japanese Maple, is a distinctive linearilobum cultivar recognized for its exceptionally long, narrow, bamboo-like red leaves and upright growth habit. Nursery accounts attribute the selection to Ed Wood. Pepiniere du Renard describes it as a chance seedling selected by Wood and subsequently introduced commercially by T.C. Plants Company of Hillsboro, Oregon. This identifies a reported introducer but does not establish the original selection location or date. The JC Raulston Arboretum documents the cultivar under accession 030142, received January 22, 2003, confirming its existence in cultivation by that date rather than establishing its introduction year. Its foliage typically develops deep burgundy tones during the growing season and crimson coloration in autumn. No specific United States plant patent or registered trademark has been verified; legal protection and royalty obligations therefore remain undetermined.
Explore the sources behind this story
Atlantic Rhododendron and Horticultural Society - 2022 Plant Sale, Ed Wood selection attributionPepiniere du Renard - Beni Otake, chance seedling and T.C. Plants introductionJC Raulston Arboretum - Acer palmatum Beni otake, accession 030142USPTO - Official Patent SearchUSPTO - Official Trademark Search
📊 Inventory and Pricing
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Pungo Maples Onsite Inventory
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