Japanese Maple (Twombly's Red Sentinel)

Common Names

Scientific Names

• Acer palmatum 'Twombly Red Sentinel'
• Sapindaceae family

History of
the Tree Species

• Native to Japan, Korea, eastern Russia, and Mongolia
• Ken Twombly in the late 1970s saw a large specimen of the "Bloodgood" Japanese Maple variety while visiting a church in eastern Connecticut — took it to his nursery nearby
• What differentiated this tree was an unusual clump of compact, upright branches
• After being cultivated, their upright form was so dramatic that they resembled red sentinels on guard, hence the name
• To this day, it's the only columnar Japanese Maple out there

Scientific Facts

• A unique tree that makes for strong accents in small gardens -- also good at filling small spaces
• Preparations of Japanese Maple leaves and branches used in traditional Chinese medicine