Bonfire Japanese Maple Specimen

Bonfire

Acer palmatum
โ— In Stock
๐ŸŒฑ Dwarf
Cultivar Description & Characteristics
Bonfire is an energetic upright tree famous for its multi-flushing foliage cycle that constantly produces bright, glowing red new growth. Throughout spring and summer, the interior leaves mature to a dark bronze-green while the branch tips continuously push out brilliant scarlet leaves. Autumn caps off the seasonal show with an intense combination of deep orange and glowing red hues. It adds continuous, dynamic color interest from spring right through the frost.
โ†•
10-Yr Height 8.0
โ†”
10-Yr Width 6.0
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Bright Red
Summer: Bronze-Green
Fall: Intense Orange
Sun Tolerance Ratings
9
Morning Sun 9 / 10
7
Afternoon Sun 7 / 10
โ˜€๏ธ Morning Sun Guidance: Morning sun emphasizes its multi-flushing cycle of bright, glowing red new growth.
โ˜€๏ธ Afternoon Sun Guidance: Energetic grower handles normal sun exposures well while maintaining bronze-green maturity.
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 ยท Rounded ยท Dwarf

Dwarf, rounded crown with upright branching; short and stocky rather than a cascading 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 ยท Bloodgood profile ยท RHS trees for smaller gardens

Roots & heritage

The story behind Bonfire

Acer palmatum 'Bonfire' is a Japanese maple valued for its brilliant scarlet spring foliage, compact branching, and vivid red autumn color. Its historical identity is complicated by differing cultivar names and descriptions. The Dawes Arboretum identifies 'Bonfire' as a synonym of 'Seigai', a Japanese cultivar reportedly cultivated since at least 1710, while Kigi Nursery also markets 'Bonfire' under the alternative name 'Seigai'. A USDA nursery reference likewise directs 'Bonfire' to 'Seigai'. However, horticultural discussions have questioned whether all plants distributed under these names represent the same clone. Consequently, the historical date associated with 'Seigai' should not automatically be assigned as the selection or introduction year of every plant sold as 'Bonfire'. The original selector, selection location, documented parentage, and first commercial introduction remain uncertain. No cultivar-specific United States plant patent or registered trademark was verified.

Explore the sources behind this story
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