Growth Rate
Slow
Moderate
Fast
Slow
Sky Nursery describes slow growth; MrMaple estimates about 8 feet at fifteen years.
PUNGO MAPLES
Virginia Beach Japanese Maple Nursery
Ghost Dancer
Acer palmatum
● In Stock
Cultivar Description & Characteristics
Ghost Dancer is a mesmerizing member of the Ghost family, featuring delicate, deeply cut leaves with striking dark veining. The foliage emerges in spring with soft pastel tones of pinkish-white and green that contrast sharply with dark veins. As summer advances, the leaves settle into a mottled green pattern with creamy undertones. Autumn crowns the season with brilliant shades of orange and glowing red.
10-Yr Height
6.0
10-Yr Width
5.0
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Pinkish-White
Summer: Mottled Green
Fall: Orange-Red
Sun Tolerance Ratings
Morning Sun
9 / 10
Afternoon Sun
4 / 10
☀️ Morning Sun Guidance:
Soft pastel tones of pinkish-white and green contrast sharply with dark veins in morning light.
☀️ Afternoon Sun Guidance:
Delicate ghost foliage needs afternoon shade to avoid burning.
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
Upright small tree.
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 Ghost Dancer
- Cultivar origin
- Oregon, USA
- Discovered / selected by
- Dave Jarrell
Acer palmatum 'Ghost Dancer' is a reticulated Japanese maple discovered and named by Oregon nurseryman Dave Jarrell. In a historical account published by Buchholz Nursery, Talon Buchholz recalls that Jarrell discovered the distinctive seedling approximately twenty years before the account was written in 2017. This suggests discovery during the late 1990s, but does not establish a precise selection year. MrMaple independently describes the cultivar as originating at a nursery near Gaston, Oregon. Although its creamy foliage, dark green veins, and purple-tipped spring growth resemble the Ghost Series developed by Buchholz Nursery, 'Ghost Dancer' originated independently and is not officially part of that series. Its first commercial introduction date and seedling parentage remain undocumented. No cultivar-specific United States plant patent or registered trademark was verified, leaving any applicable propagation restrictions or royalty obligations undetermined.
Explore the sources behind this story
Buchholz Nursery - Talon Buchholz historical account identifying Dave Jarrell as discoverer and namerMrMaple - Ghost Dancer Cultivar Spotlight, March 30, 2023MrMaple - Acer palmatum Ghost Dancer, Oregon origin and distinction from Ghost SeriesMrMaple - Ghost Series history and Ghost Dancer comparisonUSPTO - Official Patent Public Search; no cultivar-specific patent verifiedUSPTO - Official Trademark Search; no cultivar-specific registration verified
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