Acer palmatum 'Ikandi' | Cultivar Spotlight

'Ikandi', pronouced "Eye Candy", is an excellent new introduction by Talon Buchholz. When this tree first leafs out, the leaves can be almost solid pink. This is the perhaps the pinkest of the reticulated Japanese maples. Green slowly comes in the veins of the leaf, as the pink leaf becomes almost white.  New growth in the summer is a solid green, but don't worry as this will be variegated the following year. 'Ikandi' becomes more and more variegated with age.  For those with cold frames, 'Ikandi' variegates best when it leafs outside. We predict that 'Ikandi' may reach up to 10-12 ft in 15 years. Fall colors are oranges to red. Note this tree does not revert, but when grown in the cold frames at our nursery 1 gallons do not show variegation until the following year. This cultivar performs best in Zones 5 through 9.