Orange Dream Japanese Maple - Pre-Fall Color Show - Still Green in Late October - October 2026

This Summer, I planted a small, 7-gallon upright Orange Dream Japanese Maple in the backyard.  About half-way back from the front border, along the southside of the yard.  Just past the Oakleaf Hydrangeas.  Or, at least that's what I *think* this tree is in terms of variety.  I've learned over the years that if you are buying Japanese Maples at the orange Big Box parking lot nursery, you have to take their labels with a healthy skepticism.   They label things that are clearly laceleaf as Bloodgoods.  And, they label fan-leaf as Red Dragons.  

This one has red stems and fern-shaped fan leaves.  So, it (initally) checks out as Orange Dream.  I didn't see the Spring leaf-out, but we're about to enter the "Fall Show" season.  

What does the tree look like right now?  Upright, full and green.   Here, below, is a photo showing the Japanese Maple as it stands in late October after the first few months in the ground: 

This didn't suffer much from transplant shock and seemed to handle the Summer heat ok this first year.  It is planted in a protected, shaded part of the bed and I watered these beds with sprinklers throughout the season.  Here's hoping that it put down some below-ground growth and established itself enough for Winter.¹ 

I post this because I would think a key part of positive identification of this actually being an Orange Dream is coming:  with the changing leaf color for Fall.

Mr. Maple says: "Fall colors are bright oranges to red."

It was early November when the Korean Maples started to turn into their Fall colors in 2025, so I'm guessing we'll be seeing this one turn in the coming week or two.  

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^{1. With the potential for an El Nino this Winter, are the temps going to stay high and we end up with a mild Winter? ↩}