Growth Rate
Slow
Moderate
Fast
Moderate
Wilson Bros reports moderate to fast growth; moderate is the conservative display category.
PUNGO MAPLES
Virginia Beach Japanese Maple Nursery
Black Lace
Acer palmatum
● In Stock
Cultivar Description & Characteristics
Black Lace is an exquisite dissectum cultivar featuring exceptionally fine, deeply cut lobes that create a delicate, feathery texture. The spring foliage emerges in a rich dark purple hue that appears almost black against the morning light. As summer deepens, the lace-like canopy retains its dark, sophisticated coloration with minimal fading. Autumn brings a final transformation into bright, fiery red tones that contrast sharply with the dark branches.
10-Yr Height
8.0
10-Yr Width
6.0
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Dark Purple
Summer: Near-Black
Fall: Fiery Red
Sun Tolerance Ratings
Morning Sun
8 / 10
Afternoon Sun
4 / 10
☀️ Morning Sun Guidance:
Enhances the rich dark purple, almost black, feathery spring texture.
☀️ Afternoon Sun Guidance:
Delicate laceleaf form needs protection from intense midday and afternoon rays.
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
Growth Habit & Size
Upright · Weeping
Upright framework with slightly weeping outer growth; not the same strongly cascading outline as a weeping laceleaf.
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 Black Lace
- Cultivar origin
- Netherlands
- Discovered / selected by
- Jan Willem Wezelenburg
Acer palmatum 'Black Lace' is a Dutch Japanese maple selection attributed to Jan Willem Wezelenburg of the Netherlands. Specialist nursery accounts, including MrMaple and Pépinière du Renard, identify Wezelenburg as the person responsible for finding and introducing the cultivar. However, neither a precise selection date nor a first commercial introduction year could be established from these accounts. Its parentage and any controlled hybridization remain undocumented. 'Black Lace' is distinguished by exceptionally dark burgundy-purple foliage with deeply divided, lace-like matsumurae leaves. The foliage may develop bronze tones during summer before turning brilliant scarlet red in autumn. Its growth habit is initially upright, becoming broader with age. The JC Raulston Arboretum documents the cultivar in its living collection under accession 230999, received in May 2023. This accession date is not an introduction date. No cultivar-specific United States plant patent or registered trademark was verified.
Explore the sources behind this story
MrMaple - Black Lace selection and introduction by Jan Willem WezelenburgPépinière du Renard - Black Lace origin and horticultural characteristicsJC Raulston Arboretum - Black Lace accession 230999Oregon State University - Acer palmatum botanical backgroundUSPTO - Official Patent Public Search; no cultivar-specific record confirmedUSPTO - Official Trademark Search; no cultivar-specific registration confirmed
📊 Inventory and Pricing
● Live Data
Pungo Maples Onsite Inventory
| Size | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Gallon | $50.00 | AVAILABLE |
| — | — | AVAILABLE |
| — | — | AVAILABLE |
