Growth Rate
Slow
Moderate
Fast
Moderate
Moderate growth reported by Maple Ridge Nursery.
PUNGO MAPLES
Virginia Beach Japanese Maple Nursery
Purple Ghost
Acer palmatum
● In Stock
Cultivar Description & Characteristics
Purple Ghost is a stunning member of the Ghost series featuring dark purple leaves highlighted by stark black veining. The spring flush unfurls with incredible contrast, showcasing a deep, near-black pigmentation over a lighter purple base. Through the summer months, the dark foliage holds its mysterious and sophisticated coloration. Autumn crowns the year with a brilliant flash of magenta and bright red.
10-Yr Height
8.0
10-Yr Width
6.0
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Dark Purple
Summer: Near-Black
Fall: Magenta Red
Sun Tolerance Ratings
Morning Sun
9 / 10
Afternoon Sun
4 / 10
☀️ Morning Sun Guidance:
Deep, near-black pigmentation over a lighter purple base contrasts sharply in morning sun.
☀️ Afternoon Sun Guidance:
Ghost series traits mean it needs afternoon shade to avoid leaf damage.
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 · Spreading · Weeping
Upright framework with a broad, spreading crown and semi-pendulous outer branching.
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 · Bloodgood profile · RHS trees for smaller gardens
Roots & heritage
The story behind Purple Ghost
- Cultivar origin
- Gaston, Oregon, USA
- Discovered / selected by
- Talon Buchholz
- Collection
- Flora Wonder Collection, Buchholz Nursery
Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' originated as a seedling selection developed by Talon Buchholz at Buchholz Nursery in Gaston, Oregon. It belongs to the celebrated Ghost Series, a collection of Japanese maples distinguished by striking reticulated foliage. A 2019 Metro Maples newsletter dates the seedling's origin to approximately 1990 and identifies 'Kasagi yama' as its seed parent, although independent primary documentation of that parentage was not established. The approximate selection date should not be confused with its commercial introduction, for which no exact year was verified. The cultivar was already represented in the Dawes Arboretum collection by 2005. Its spring foliage displays luminous reddish-purple coloring with prominent dark veins, maturing to deeper purple before developing brilliant autumn reds. Buchholz Nursery identifies Talon Buchholz as its selector. Published nursery-industry reporting states that Buchholz did not patent his introductions or register their names, but no cultivar-specific official legal record was verified.
Explore the sources behind this story
Buchholz Nursery - Purple Ghost original nursery cultivar profileThe Dawes Arboretum - Purple Ghost cultivar origin and accessionMetro Maples - October 2019 Ghost Series newsletter, approximate origin and reported seed parentDigger Magazine - Goodbye to Buchholz Nursery, breeder history and patent statementsAmerican Public Gardens Association - 2017 Acer holdings and Buchholz Nursery provenanceHeritage Seedlings - Nursery catalog identifying Talon Buchholz as introducer
📊 Inventory and Pricing
● Live Data
Pungo Maples Onsite Inventory
| Size | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| — | — | AVAILABLE |
| 10 Gallon | $145.00 | AVAILABLE |
| 10 Gallon | $145.00 | AVAILABLE |
| — | — | AVAILABLE |
| 5 Gallon | $120.00 | AVAILABLE |
| 15 Gallon | $185.00 | PENDING SALE |
| 15 Gallon | $185.00 | SOLD |
