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Acer palmatum 'Oregon Sunset'

Tree
Full sun to part shade

Also known as: Oregon Sunset Japanese Maple

What's special about Acer palmatum 'Oregon Sunset'

Compact upright red Japanese maple.

Growing this variety

Acer palmatum 'Oregon Sunset' follows the same growing basics as Acer. Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Acer family.

Season
Sow stratified seed in early spring; collect fresh seed in fall
USDA zones
Varies by species — most hardy zones 3–9
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Start indoors
After stratification, start in deep pots 8–12 weeks before transplant
Direct sow outdoors
Fall sowing works well (natural cold stratification over winter)
Days to harvest
Not applicable — ornamental/shade tree

Germination

Germination time
20–60 days after stratification
Soil temperature
65–75°F (18–24°C) after cold treatment

Spacing & depth

Sow depth
1/8–1/4 in (3–6 mm)
Seed spacing
1–2 in (2–5 cm) apart in flats
Mature plant spacing
Final: give the mature tree its full canopy width
Row spacing
N/A — transplant individually

How to plant

De-wing samaras if noted. Cold-stratify seed 30–120 days in damp sand or peat at 34–41°F (1–5°C). Sow in deep tree pots with well-drained mix. Keep evenly moist and in bright light after germination. Grow on 1–2 seasons before planting to a permanent site with a wide mulch ring.

Pre-sow treatment

Cold stratification

30–120 days cold stratification at 34–41°F (1–5°C); some species need warm+cold double stratification.

Grower's tip

Maples range from tiny Japanese ornamentals to towering shade trees. Most need cold stratification; some benefit from warm+cold double stratification.

Soil preferences

Soil type

Deep, well-drained native soil. Avoid amending the planting hole heavily — roots should learn to grow into the surrounding earth.

pH range

5.5–7.5 depending on species (conifers lean acidic; most hardwoods neutral).

Amendments

Top-dress with compost and mulch in a wide ring; don't backfill with pure compost.

Watering

Frequency

Deep soak weekly the first two years while roots establish; taper once the tree self-supports.

Method

Slow trickle at the drip line, not the trunk. A 5-gal bucket with a pinhole is ideal.

Over vs. under

Overwatered: yellowing, root rot, mushroom collar. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop.

Top-water or bottom-water?

Prefers top-watering — Trees are always top-watered — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering only makes sense for nursery seedlings.

Temperature tolerance

Ideal daytime air temp

Broad — most species tolerate 40–90°F once established

Ideal nighttime air temp

Down to species-rated USDA zone minimum

Frost sensitivity

Hardy once established; young seedlings need protection their first winter.

Special germination requirements

Most temperate tree seed needs cold stratification (30–120+ days at 34–41°F) — see each species entry for the exact time.

Container growing

Container-suitable?

Possible with the right cultivar

Recommended pot size

Deep tree pots (root trainers) for the first 1–2 seasons; permanent site required for full growth.

Notes

Only dwarf, patio, or bonsai forms live long-term in containers.

Detailed harvesting

Not applicable for ornamental/timber trees. Nut and fruit species — pick when they drop naturally.

Post-harvest storage & preservation

Nuts: keep damp and cool, sow promptly. Winged/coned seed: dry, cool, dark in a sealed jar.

Culinary, medicinal & other uses

Shade, windbreak, wildlife habitat, timber, ornament, and long-term carbon storage.

Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.

Seed saving

Pollination

Wind- or insect-pollinated; seedlings rarely match the parent exactly (especially named cultivars — those must be grafted or cutting-grown).

Isolation needs

Not practical for trees. Expect variation.

How to save

Collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean, dry or keep damp per species, then cold-stratify before spring sowing.

Your zone's planting calendar

Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for acer in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.

My Acer palmatum 'Oregon Sunset' Acer notes

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Acer palmatum 'Oregon Sunset' Acer seeds on hand

Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.

Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.

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From your kitchen — grow acer from what you already have

Trees usually mean patience — collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean pulp off, and give most species a cold winter (real or in the fridge) before they'll germinate.

  1. 1Collect ripe seed/nuts/cones in autumn from a healthy parent.
  2. 2Clean off any fleshy pulp; dry cones warm to release seed.
  3. 3Cold-stratify in a bag of damp sand or peat in the fridge (34–41°F) for the time listed on the species.
  4. 4Sow in deep tree pots and grow on 1–2 seasons before planting to a permanent spot.

Storage: Most tree seed keeps 1–3 years cool and dry; oak/hickory/chestnut nuts must stay damp and be sown promptly.

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Acer japonicum 'Oisami'

Oisami Full-Moon Maple selection.

Acer japonicum aconitifolium

Deeply cut fern-like leaves; blazing fall color. Dry seed.

Acer mandshuricum

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Acer palmatum 'Aka shigitatsu sawa'

Variegated pink and green Japanese maple selection.

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'

Deep burgundy leaves that hold color well into summer.

Acer palmatum atropurpureum

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Acer palmatum 'Sumi nagashi'

Deep purple-red laceleaf Japanese maple.

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Green-and-white striped bark on young stems.

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Small understory maple with upright flower spikes.

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Tough, hardy small maple; drought-tolerant.

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Graceful Chinese maple similar to Japanese maple with fine autumn color.

Acer palmatum 'Hubbs Red Willow'

Red-leaved narrow willow-leaf Japanese maple. Dry seed.

Acer palmatum amoenum

Larger-leaved botanical form of Japanese maple; strong grower.

Acer palmatum 'Atrolineare'

Strap-thin red leaves that look like ribbons. Dry seed.

Acer palmatum 'Hogyoku'

Upright green Japanese maple with brilliant orange fall color. Dry seed.

Acer palmatum amoenum 'Ichigyoji'

Large-leaved green Japanese maple with vivid yellow-orange fall color. Dry seed.

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Acer palmatum 'Shojo'

Deep purple-red leaves that hold color well.

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Acer palmatum 'Beni Otake'

Long narrow burgundy leaves resembling bamboo. Dry seed.

Acer palmatum 'Burgundy Lace'

Deeply cut burgundy-purple leaves; upright habit.

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Vigorous red-leaved upright Japanese maple; leafs out late to avoid frost.

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Weeping laceleaf that holds deep purple-red color well. Dry seed.

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Cascading purple-red leaves turning crimson in fall.

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Green Japanese maple with brilliant orange-red fall color. Dry seed.

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Very dark purple-black leaves. Dry seed.

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Glossy dark red-purple leaves.

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Cascading habit with lacy green leaves and gold-orange fall color. Dry seed.

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Only upright-growing laceleaf Japanese maple; green with orange-red fall color. Dry seed.

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Weeping laceleaf holding deep burgundy through summer. Dry seed.

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Distinctive rolled-edge deep red leaves; vigorous upright form. Dry seed.

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Red-purple leaved Japanese maple selection. Dry seed.

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Northern-sourced red maple; hardier for cold zones. Winged seed.

Acer rubrum (Southern)

Southern/Drummond red maple; tolerates wet swampy soils. Winged seed.

Acer rubrum (Selected)

Selected superior seed source of red maple.

Acer saccharinum

Fast-growing large shade tree with deeply lobed silvery-backed leaves.

Acer saccharum (Northern, Zone 6)

Northern-source sugar maple for cold zones; classic maple syrup tree. De-winged seed.

Acer saccharum (Southern)

Southern-source sugar maple; better heat tolerance. Available de-winged or winged.

Acer saccharum ssp. leucoderme

Small southeastern US sugar maple with pale bark.

Acer shirasawanum 'Ogurayama'

Full moon maple selection with rich fall color.

Acer shirasawanum

Rounded full-moon maple with excellent fall color. Dry seed.

Acer shirasawanum var. aureum

Golden-leaved full moon maple. Dry seed.

Acer sieboldianum 'Sode-No-Uchi'

Dwarf Siebold maple selection.

Acer sieboldianum

Small Japanese maple with yellow flowers and fine fall color. Dry seed.

Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala

Hardy subspecies with brilliant scarlet fall color; often multi-stemmed.

Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala 'Flame'

Selected form with especially vivid flame-red fall color.

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Acer tetramerum

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Acer triflorum

Trifoliate maple with peeling rough bark and outstanding orange-red fall color.

Acer truncatum

Tough, drought-tolerant Chinese maple with purple new growth and yellow-orange fall color.

Acer velutinum

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Hybrid of red and silver maple; fast-growing shade tree with brilliant fall color. Dry seed.

Acer x freemanii Select Varieties

Seed from select Freeman maple cultivars. De-winged seed.