Acer palmatum 'Lileeanne's Jewel' EXTRAVAGANZA Japanese maple

EXTRAVAGANZA is a Japanese maple variety with extremely attractive leaves. They are fine but not classified as dissectum (cut-leaf), they emerge bright pink with conspicuous white variegation and in full sun the pink colour intensifies and turns bright maroon. Unlike many other variegated maples, EXTRAVAGANZA thrives in full sun where it makes the richest colours. It can be grown in partial shade, too, where it will make a more distinct contrast between the newly emerging pink leaves at the tips of the branches and the mature, pale green marbled white leaves in the lower parts. In autumn they turn mostly maroon and amber orange.

It grows moderately fast into a broadly funnel-shaped shrub of somewhat irregular but dense habit and slightly arching branches. Its mature height and width are estimated between 1.5 and 2 meters. Due to the vivid colour play on the leaves we recommend planning the companion planting carefully so that the plants do not clash with one another. In our bed we chose dwarf, mound-forming azaleas and rhododendrons as an understory, and single-coloured shrubs in the immediate vicinity.

This variety was found as a chance seedling by Jonathan Savelich in the nursery of his grandfather, a renowned breeder and grower of Japanese maples Del Loucks (1931-2015). Del was surrounded by plants all his life – as a young man when he worked in the family nursery and later as an adult when he founded his own company Del's Japanese Maples in Eugene, Oregon, USA, where he could fully focus on his lifetime passion for developing Japanese maples. He is unfortunately little known by name but his creations are famous worldwide. Among his most widespread varieties are for example Emerald Lace, Aka kawa hime, Coton Candy or Red Spider.

The original name of this variety in America was Lileeanne’s Jewel and it was named by Del’s grandson Jonathan after his daughter Lileeanne. The first plants were offered to the famous American Japanese maple nursery MrMaple in 2009. The variety immediately became a sensation among collectors, and as it had not yet been propagated, MrMaple offered only a few grafts on eBay. They couldn't believe their eyes when the price of one twig rose to $300. Now the variety is widely available in good quantities at standard prices, also here in Europe where it was given a trade name EXTRAVAGANZA and is propagated by the Dutch nursery Van Son & Kot from Kaatsheuvel in North Brabant. It was introduced in Europe for the first time in 2019 at the prestigious plant exhibition Plantarium in Boskoop where it was one of the eight nominees for the Press Award Plantarium 2019.

Japanese maples need constantly moist soil that has to be well-drained, acidic to neutral, and medium fertile. Keep it mulched all year round. It loves a location with high air humidity, e.g. at a river bank or near a pond but it is not a must. EXTRAVAGANZA maple withstands full sun in constantly moist soil, and naturally grows in partial shade, too. Full shade is not recommended. It is hardy to at least -29 °C (USDA zone 5), and is suitable for outdoor planters, too, if kept moist but without a saucer.

Last update 03-01-2023