Gold Digger Japanese Maple Specimen

Gold Digger

Acer palmatum
โ— In Stock
๐Ÿชต Colorful Winter Bark
Cultivar Description & Characteristics
Gold Digger is a stunning upright cultivar prized for its rich, luminous golden-yellow foliage that lights up the landscape. The spring leaves open in a brilliant yellow shade that holds its color remarkably well against summer sun scorch. When autumn arrives, the golden canopy intensifies into warm shades of amber and bright orange. It is an exceptional specimen for adding vibrant, warm contrast to dark evergreen backdrops.
โ†•
10-Yr Height 8.0
โ†”
10-Yr Width 6.0
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Golden Yellow
Summer: Chartreuse
Fall: Amber Orange
Sun Tolerance Ratings
9
Morning Sun 9 / 10
6
Afternoon Sun 6 / 10
โ˜€๏ธ Morning Sun Guidance: Rich, luminous golden-yellow spring leaves light up brilliantly.
โ˜€๏ธ Afternoon Sun Guidance: Retains color remarkably well against summer sun scorch compared to other gold varieties.
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

Bushy, upright vase-shaped 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 ยท Bloodgood profile ยท RHS trees for smaller gardens

Roots & heritage

The story behind Gold Digger

Acer palmatum 'Gold Digger' is a Japanese maple cultivar prized for its bright golden-yellow foliage and contrasting coral-red young branches. Its ornamental appeal comes from the combination of luminous spring growth, colorful stems, and seasonal foliage changes. Specialist nursery descriptions identify it as an upright-growing selection suitable for gardens where foliage and bark color provide contrasting interest. However, the cultivar's original selector, geographical selection location, discovery date, and first commercial introduction year have not been established through verified historical records. No reliable documentation identifies its seed parent, pollen parent, or a controlled breeding program responsible for its development. Nursery availability and descriptions of its characteristics do not independently establish its provenance. No specific United States plant patent or registered trademark for Acer palmatum 'Gold Digger' has been verified. This does not establish whether propagation restrictions, contractual licensing arrangements, or royalty obligations apply.

Explore the sources behind this story
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