Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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fireball japanese maple

The Fireball Japanese Maple is a compact, eye-catching garden tree prized for its vibrant red foliage and neat, rounded form. Its fiery leaves make it a standout focal point in any New Zealand garden, especially during spring and autumn when the colour truly intensifies. If you're searching for a striking, low-maintenance maple that thrives in smaller spaces or as a feature in containers, the Fireball Japanese Maple is a superb choice. This variety is known for its tolerance to full sun compared to other maples, making it a practical and beautiful addition to both contemporary and traditional landscapes.

Acer Skeeters Broom (Skeeters Broom Acer)

Acer palmatum Skeeters Broom is an impressive, small, Japanese Maple featuring a rich display of colourful foliage. New leaves emerge bright red in spring, age to a rich purple-red through summer, then turn scarlet red in autumn before falling. The foliage is held densely off upright stems and it typically grows to 3 m tall and 2 m wide. Acer Skeeters Broom is a magnificent specimen that is perfect for adding to a mixed planting, growing as a specimen, planting around outdoor living areas, or using as a backdrop for smaller plants.

Buy Acer Skeeters Broom (Skeeters Broom Acer)

From $438.39

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Trees

Height: 3.00 m

Spread: 2.00 m

Garden uses: Living areas, Parks, Specimen

Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern

Acer palmatum Senkaki (Acer Senkaki)

Acer palmatum Senkaki is a stunning Japanese Maple or Coral Bark Maple due to its striking and delicate foliage. Small, soft looking leaves emerge yellow-green in spring with reddish margins. They mature to a light green in summer before turning spectacular shades of yellow in autumn before falling. It grows with an upright and vase shape to about 6 m tall and 4 m wide. Acer Senkaki makes for a magnificent specimen and is ideal for including in a mixed planting, planting to soften a bland wall, maintaining in a container or courtyard garden, planting to border an entrance, or for using anywhere the spectacular colours can be enjoyed.

Buy Acer palmatum Senkaki (Acer Senkaki)

From $382.61

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Trees

Height: 6.00 m

Spread: 4.00 m

Tolerances: Hardy

Garden uses: Parks, Ponds, Specimen

Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern

Stunning Foliage Throughout the Seasons

One of the main attractions of the Fireball Japanese Maple is its ever-changing foliage. Fresh spring growth emerges in bright red shades, maturing to a rich, deep burgundy over summer. As autumn approaches, the leaves intensify into brilliant scarlet before falling. This dynamic colour display ensures year-round interest, making the Fireball Japanese Maple perfect for adding a lively splash of colour to courtyards, patios, and sheltered borders.

Compact Size for Versatile Planting

Reaching around 1 to 1.2 metres tall and wide after many years, the Fireball Japanese Maple fits beautifully in a variety of garden settings. Its tidy, bush-like habit lends itself to small urban gardens, decorative pots, or even as a highlight in larger mixed borders. Thanks to its slow growth rate, this variety is easy to shape and maintain, requiring minimal pruning to retain its signature compact form.

Planting Advice and Care

For best results, plant your Fireball Japanese Maple in a sheltered spot with morning sun and protection from harsh afternoon rays to help preserve foliage colour and prevent sun scorch. A well-drained, humus-rich soil is ideal, and adding mulch each year keeps roots cool and moist. Consistent watering during dry spells supports healthy growth, and a slow-release fertiliser in early spring will keep your maple looking its best. Occasional pruning can help maintain the preferred shape, removing any dead or crossing branches.

Explore More Japanese Maples

If you love the look of Fireball Japanese Maple, consider exploring other distinctive maples in our range. For bold structure and vibrant autumn tones, Acer Skeeters Broom (Skeeters Broom Acer) offers an upright habit and brilliant red leaves. The elegant, lacy foliage of Acer palmatum dissectum Atropurpureum (Dissectum atropurpureum Japanese Maple) provides a soft, cascading effect, ideal for shaded borders. For unique coral-red stems, try Acer palmatum Senkaki (Acer Senkaki), which is especially showy in winter. The Acer 'Fireglow' is another favourite for its luminous red foliage and sun tolerance, while Acer palmatum Hanami Nishiki (Acer Hanami Nishiki) offers striking variegated leaves.

Why Choose Fireball Japanese Maple?

Choosing a Fireball Japanese Maple means welcoming year-round colour and beauty, all in an easy-to-manage package. Perfectly suited for New Zealand gardens of all sizes, this small maple brings fiery brilliance to any space. With its minimal maintenance, sun tolerance, and unrivalled leaf colour, the Fireball Japanese Maple is a must for anyone passionate about decorative trees. Enhance your garden with this dazzling specimen and enjoy its vibrant presence for years to come.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.