Beni Hoshi Japanese Maple

Introduced by Del Loucks in 1996 and named 'Beni Hoshi' — Japanese for 'Ruby Star' — this unique upright dwarf Japanese maple is one of the most ornamentally distinctive compact selections available. With twisted rounded leaves, an extraordinary peachy-orange mid-summer colour phase, and a mature size of just 5 by 4 feet in 15 years, it deserves a place in every maple collection and garden.

Growth Form & Habit

'Beni Hoshi' develops into a refined, compact upright dwarf, including:

• A slow-growing upright habit reaching just 5 feet tall by 4 feet wide in 15 years
• Full, rounded amoenum leaves that develop a distinctive twist as they mature
• An increasingly unique and textured canopy as the characteristic leaf curl develops with age

The twisted leaf habit — best expressed with afternoon shade — gives 'Beni Hoshi' a canopy texture unlike any other dwarf Japanese maple.

Foliage & Seasonal Characteristics

'Beni Hoshi' delivers a remarkable seasonal colour journey, including:

• Spring: Bright red rounded amoenum foliage — vivid and eye-catching from the first flush
• Early summer: Foliage deepens to a rich, warm maroon
• Mid-summer: A unique peachy orange transformation — outstanding garden contrast at a time when most maples are simply holding colour
• Autumn: Bright yellow to orange fall colour — a warm and luminous seasonal finale
• Winter: Refined branching structure with delicate dwarf presence

The mid-summer peachy orange phase is especially noteworthy — providing a colour that stands apart from other Japanese maples and creates genuine contrast and interest throughout the entire growing season.

Ideal for Containers, Rock Gardens & Small Spaces

'Beni Hoshi' is perfectly sized for the widest range of garden applications of any Japanese maple on offer. Whether featured in a container on a patio, nestled into a rock or conifer bed, positioned in a fairy garden, or planted in a small landscape space, it brings extraordinary ornamental value without the space demands of larger cultivars. This is a tree that rewards close observation — especially as the leaf twist develops with maturity.

Why Choose Beni Hoshi?

• Unique twisted leaves: Rounded amoenum leaves develop a distinctive twist with maturity — unlike any other dwarf Japanese maple
• Peachy-orange mid-summer colour: A rare and striking mid-season transformation that provides outstanding garden contrast
• Four-season colour journey: Bright red spring → maroon early summer → peachy orange mid-summer → yellow to orange fall
• Compact and versatile: Just 5 × 4 feet in 15 years — ideal for containers, rock gardens, fairy gardens, and small spaces
• Collector's cultivar: Introduced by Del Loucks in 1996 — a tree that deserves a place in any maple collection or garden

Typical Beni Hoshi growth form

Plant Sizes

We offer Beni Hoshi Japanese maples in several size categories. Measurements are approximate and provided as a general guideline.

Please note: Plant size and form will vary depending on the cultivar purchased. Dwarf varieties will naturally be smaller and more compact than standard varieties, even within the same pot size.

Grown in Canada, for Canada. All our Japanese maples are cultivated and shipped from our Canadian nursery with care, ensuring they arrive healthy and ready to thrive in your climate.