Home » Misc » Most beautiful japanese maples

Most beautiful japanese maples


21 of the Best Japanese Maple Varieties

Picture some of the most beautiful gardens that you’ve ever seen. Chances are, many of them had a Japanese maple or two (or three). That’s because these trees are so incredibly unique, elegant, and colorful.

Plus, there are so many size, shape, and growth combinations available, you’re sure to find what you need to add height, texture, or color to a garden display.

Chances are, if you need a small tree to add interest to your own garden, there’s a Japanese maple that fits the bill.

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

That said, the marvelous variation available is also what makes shopping for one of these trees a bit challenging. A well-stocked nursery can be downright overwhelming!

This guide will help you to narrow down the search. Up ahead, we feature some of the best options out there.

Whether they are particularly hardy, exceptionally beautiful, or one of the more popular or unique trees out there, there’s something on this list for everyone who is in the market for a Japanese maple to grow at home.

Here are the trees you’re about to learn all about:

21 of the Best Japanese Maple Varieties

  1. Autumn Moon
  2. Beni Kawa
  3. Butterfly
  4. Coonara Pygmy
  5. Coral Bark
  6. Crimson Queen
  7. Emperor One
  8. Green Cascade
  9. Higasayama
  10. Hogyoku
  11. Koto Ito Komachi
  12. Lion’s Mane
  13. Osakazuki
  14. Red Dragon
  15. Scolopendrifolium
  16. Seiryu
  17. Usugumo
  18. Velvet Viking
  19. Villa Taranto
  20. Viridis
  21. Vitifolium

There are some pretty incredible trees on this list, so let’s jump right in!

1. Autumn Moon

Obviously, I love all my Japanese maple children equally. But if there is one tree that I tend to show off just a bit more than the others, it’s A. shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon.’

‘Autumn Moon’

This upright tree stays fairly compact, topping out at about 12 feet, though it takes years to reach that point. But its size isn’t its most exceptional aspect.

The foliage is the real knockout feature.

In the spring, it’s yellow and orange before shifting to salmony-red during the summer. In the fall, it changes to vibrant orange and red.

And rather than having the familiar deeply lobed leaves that you’ll see on many Japanese maples, the leaves on this tree look like large palms with seven or nine stubby “fingers.”

It grows best in Zones 5 to 8, and needs full sun to really show its color.

‘Autumn Moon’

You can find two- to three-foot ‘Autumn Moon’ plants available from Fast Growing Trees.

2. Beni Kawa

A. palmatum ‘Beni Kawa’ isn’t just beautiful when it’s dressed up in its full summer foliage. It has bright coral-colored bark that makes a striking statement in the winter garden as well.

‘Beni Kawa.’ Photo via Alamy.

The leaves start out with a bright green color in the spring, gradually transitioning to golden yellow in the fall.

At under 10 feet tall and wide, it won’t crowd out the rest of the plants in your landscape. It also has a lovely arching growth habit.

‘Beni Kawa’

‘Beni Kawa’ thrives in warmer areas than some other cultivars, and it’s suited to Zones 5 to 9.

You can purchase a one-year-old plant from Japanese Maples and Evergreens via Amazon.

3. Butterfly

A. palmatum ‘Butterfly’ stands out because it has medium-green leaves with distinct silvery white margins.

And some leaves may be entirely green while others are entirely silvery white, giving the entire tree a lovely variegated appearance.

‘Butterfly’

That’s not all, though. In the spring, new growth is pink on the margins, while in the fall, the margins of the deeply lobed leaves turn bright magenta. It’s an impressive sight.

‘Butterfly’ needs partial sun and only grows in Zones 6 to 8. When mature, it reaches up to 12 feet tall and eight feet wide with an upright growth habit.

‘Butterfly’

You can find two- to three-foot ‘Butterfly’ plants available for purchase at Fast Growing Trees.

4. Coonara Pygmy

A. palmatum ‘Coonara Pygmy’ stays petite, only growing to about ten feet tall – about half the size of some larger Japanese maples – with an upright habit. It’s hardy in Zones 6 to 9.

‘Coonara Pygmy.’ Photo via Alamy.

The deeply lobed leaves are pink as they first emerge in the spring before turning bright green in the summer. In the fall, the foliage becomes bright red with small patches of yellow.

5. Coral Bark

A. palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ is another Japanese maple with bright coral bark. Its name means “coral tower.” The color becomes more intense as the seasons become cooler.

‘Sango Kaku’

Hardy in Zones 5 to 8, the leaves on this tree are bright green with red margins in the summer, turning brilliant yellow in the fall.

Once mature, this striking tree stands with an upright habit at 20 to 25 feet tall.

‘Coral Bark’

‘Sango Kaku’ is ideal if you want something that not only adds color to the yard during the growing season, but also during the dormant winter months.

Sound good? Nature Hills Nursery carries this plant in #2 containers.

Read more about growing coral bark varieties here.

6. Crimson Queen

An incredibly popular tree, ‘Crimson Queen’ is a dwarf A. palmatum cultivar.

It’s wider than it is tall, eventually growing to about eight feet tall and 12 feet wide, with elegantly weeping branches. Its shape can add some interesting dimension to your garden.

‘Crimson Queen’

The foliage can appear to have a different hue depending on the amount of light it receives. In partial sun, the lacy leaves are maroon.

In spots that receive more light, the color is a brighter red. In the fall, the foliage becomes a dazzling crimson.

‘Crimson Queen’

‘Crimson Queen’ is hardy in Zones 5 to 9. To nab one for your yard, head to Nature Hills Nursery, where you can purchase a three-year-old plant.

7. Emperor One

This cultivar looks similar to the exceptionally popular ‘Bloodgood,’ but differs in that it only grows to about 15 feet tall with an upright growth habit. It’s hardy in Zones 5 to 8.

‘Emperor One’

This A. palmatum cultivar is one the hardiest maples out there, rarely suffering from pests and diseases.

The foliage is stunning, transitioning from deep maroon to bright red in the fall.

‘Emperor One’

Our friends at Nature Hills Nursery carry this beauty in #2 containers.

8. Green Cascade

A. japonicum ‘Green Cascade’ is an upright full moon maple that grows in Zones 5 to 7, and reaches about 20 feet tall and 25 feet wide.

‘Green Cascade.’ Photo by Kristine Lofgren.

With rounded and palmate foliage, somewhat resembling a fern, the deeply lobed and heavily serrated emerald green leaves turn bright red and yellow in the fall.

In the garden, the effect is extremely impressive. It’s almost like having a massive, shade-providing fern in your garden.

9. Higasayama

While Japanese maples tend to really shine in the fall when their foliage turns to a different hue, ‘Higasayama’ also puts on an elegant display in the spring.

The leaves bud out with a green base enveloped in a bright pink exterior.

‘Higasayama’

As the leaves open, they reveal a creamy pink display before turning deep green with creamy margins. This A. palmatum is happiest in Zones 5 to 8, with an upright, open growth habit that tops out at about 18 feet tall.

Japanese Maples and Evergreens via Amazon carries this spectacular tree as a two-year-old plant if you’re itching to add it to your space.

10. Hogyoku

Gardeners in Zones 5 to 9 can grow this elegant A. palmatum, also known as the “Golden Jewel of Fall.”

While ‘Hogyokou’ is beautiful all summer with its green, yellow, orange, and slightly red-tinged leaves, it’s the bright pumpkin orange color it displays in the fall that really stands out.

‘Hogyoku’

This upright tree is medium-sized when mature, at about 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide. This is a cultivar that does better in full sun than many others.

If you’re dying to get your hands on ‘Hogyoku’ – and I can’t blame you – head on over to Amazon.

11. Koto Ito Komachi

No guide to Japanese maples would be complete without the lovely, classic A. palmatum cultivar ‘Koto Ito Komachi.’

‘Koto Ito Komachi.’ Photo by Kristine Lofgren.

The leaves on this tree have five string-like lobes and are light green in the summer before turning bright orange in the fall.

It almost resembles a tiny weeping willow, and grows upright to just six feet tall and five feet wide when mature.

Hardy in Zones 6 to 9, you can grow it in Zone 5 if it’s in a protected spot.

12. Lion’s Mane

A. palmatum ‘Shishigashira,’ also known as ‘Lion’s Mane,’ doesn’t look like your average maple. The leaves grow packed close together and they’re a deep, glossy green with wrinkled margins.

‘Lion’s Mane’

At summer’s end and into fall, it gradually turns yellow and orange.

‘Lion’s Mane’ stays under six feet tall with an upright habit, and is hardy in Zones 6 to 9. The leaves may burn at the tips if grown in direct sun in hot climates.

13. Osakazuki

For fall color, it’s hard to beat ‘Osakazuki.’ This A. palmatum tree has intensely bright orange-scarlet leaves in the autumn that stay on the tree for several weeks.

‘Osakazuki’

In spring and summer, the leaves are bright green. Each leaf has seven lobes and serrated edges.

‘Osakazuki’ won the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Best suited to Zones 5 to 8, it grows up to 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide with an upright, rounded shape.

14. Red Dragon

Hardy in Zones 5 to 8, the popular ‘Red Dragon’ is compact with a tidy, weeping growth habit. This A. palmatum cultivar stays extremely small, just six to eight feet wide and tall when mature.

But what really makes ‘Red Dragon’ stand out is its stunning foliage color in the fall.

The summer hue is an extremely dark burgundy, changing to a luminescent red in autumn that practically glows from within.

‘Red Dragon’

Add some color to your yard by purchasing a two-year-old plant from Japanese Maples and Evergreens via Amazon.

15. Scolopendrifolium

If you want something a little different, get your hands on ‘Scolopendrifolium,’ also known as ‘Shinobuga Oka.’

The leaves on this A. palmatum tree have incredibly long, narrow lobes that are divided down to the base.

‘Scolopendrifolium’

In the summer, the leaves are bright green, while the stems, seed pods, and blossoms are all red. The overall effect is impressive.

This upright, spreading, 15-foot tree appears to be covered in delicate green straps with the red adding a striking contrast, and it grows well in Zones 5 to 9.

16. Seiryu

Every single other green lace-leaf maple that we know of has a weeping or cascading growing habit. ‘Seiryu’ is credited as being the only strong upright grower with green lacy leaves.

‘Seiryu.’ Photo by Kristine Lofgren.

It doesn’t grow terribly tall, staying under 15 feet, but it usually maxes out closer to 10 feet.

‘Seiryu’ is suited to Zones 5 to 9, and does best in part shade, since full sun can singe the leaves. The foliage is bright green in the spring and summer, turning golden yellow with red tips in the fall.

‘Seiryu’

Add this variety to your yard by purchasing a tree in a gallon-size container from New Life Nursery and Garden via Amazon.

17. Usugumo

If you want a maple that will really stand out, seek out A. pictum ‘Usugumo,’ a rare painted leaf batwing maple.

This leaf shape isn’t common and it looks nothing like the deeply-lobed foliage that most people are familiar with.

‘Usugumo.’ Photo by Kristine Lofgren.

In the spring, this stunner emerges with soft pink leaves that change to green in the summer.

From far away, the leaves look like they are a uniform soft, pale green, but up close, you can see that they are actually variegated.

Each leaf has a deep green base with green veins, and cream or pale yellow mottling. In the fall, the leaves turn pale yellow.

This upright tree does best in Zones 5 to 9 and is perfect for a small space or container. It never grows taller than about seven feet.

18. Velvet Viking

This gorgeous A. palmatum specimen may look delicate with its lovely lacey leaves, but it’s actually quite sturdy, and it is hardy in Zones 4 to 9.

A dwarf cultivar, ‘Velvet Viking’ has an elegant weeping form, spreading low and wide. At maturity, it reaches only three feet tall and five feet wide.

The purple-red foliage turns an intense, bright red in the fall.

19. Villa Taranto

This A. palmatum dwarf variety has red, green, and cream-colored variegated leaves, and has an upright vase-shaped growing habit.

The foliage is deeply lobed so that each leaf almost looks like it has five or more string-like fingers.

‘Villa Taranto’

It does well in Zones 5 to 8, and can be grown in full sun in cooler areas, or part shade in hotter spots.

If this maple is calling your name (and I totally understand), head on over to Amazon to grab a three-year-old live tree.

20. Viridis

If you want a lacy, green A. palmatum Japanese maple that you can grow in a container or a small area, ‘Viridis’ is an excellent choice.

‘Viridis’

It only grows to six feet tall and wide, but can easily be pruned to stay about four feet tall and three feet wide. Its growth habit is a gracefully mounding cascade.

The foliage is deeply lobed with heavily toothed margins in a marvelous deep shade of green that transitions to orange, yellow, and red in the autumn.

‘Viridis’

Pick up your own two-year-old live tree at Nature Hills Nursery.

21. Vitifolium

A. japonicum ‘Vitifolium’ has foliage that almost looks like grape leaves, which turn intensely gold and scarlet in the fall. In the spring, they are bronze as they emerge and open, at which point they begin to turn a vivid green.

‘Vitifolium’

Plus, it has beautiful burgundy flowers in the spring. Most maples aren’t noted for their blossoms, but this one is because of the way the blooms stand out against the bright green foliage.

‘Vitifolium’ won the RHS Award of Garden of Merit in 1993. It grows with an upright habit to 15 feet tall and wide, and is hardy in Zones 5 to 7.

‘Vitifolium’

Sold? You can’t go wrong with this beauty. Purchase a two-year-old live plant at Amazon.

There Are So Many Japanese Maples to Love

We weren’t kidding when we said there are a ton of different Japanese maples to choose from!

This really is an incredibly varied group of trees, and that’s part of their charm. But now, you hopefully have a better idea of which one is perfect for your space.

If so, I genuinely want to hear about which one you end up picking for your garden. Pictures, too, please! Reach out below in the comments.

And for more information about Japanese maple trees, check out the following guides next:

The Best Japanese Maples - FineGardening

There aren’t many gardeners—beginners or experts—who don’t love a Japanese maple (cultivars of Acer palmatum, A. japonicum, and A. shirasawanum, USDA Hardiness Zones 5–8). They’re some of the most popular trees in our landscapes, offering graceful forms, vivid foliage colors, and undeniable beauty. The average garden center, unfortunately, has only five or six varieties to choose from, and they’re usually the popular standards, like ‘Bloodgood’ (A. palmatum ‘Bloodgood’), and various burgundy threadleaf varieties, like ‘Crimson Queen’ (A. palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’). While these varieties are wonderful, they offer no hint of the kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, and textures to be had in the wider world of Japanese maples. We surveyed a number of Japanese-maple aficionados to ask for their absolute favorite variety in several categories. Their picks will excite and entice you, and send you on the hunt to find a variety beyond ‘Bloodgood’.

 

Most Exciting New Variety

‘Olsen’s Frosted Strawberry’

Name: A. palmatum ‘Olsen’s Frosted Strawberry’

Mature size: Up to 10 feet tall and wide

This exciting new variety is a hit with many of our experts, and it’s easy to see why. The foliage emerges strawberry red and pink in spring, and lightens to a variable show of pink, silvery white, and green with pink leaf stems. In fall, the leaves turn shades of orange and pink. Slow growing and slightly weeping, ‘Olsen’s Frosted Strawberry’ is sure to attract fawning attention in any garden. Give this variety afternoon shade for the best color show.

Our experts say:

“This is a multicolored show­stopper that changes with the light and the season. Give it the right location and you’ll get silvers, reds, and greens all at once.”

– Henry Eastwood and Francie Schroeder are co-owners of Eastwoods Nurseries in Washington, Virginia, where they specialize in Japanese maples, conifers, and ginkgos.

Honorable mentions:

‘Amber Ghost’, ‘Lileeanne’s Jewel’, ‘Rainbow’

 

Best Spring Color

‘Shindeshojo’

Name: Acer palmatum ‘Shindeshojo’

Mature size: Up to 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide

The leaves of this stunning variety emerge bright pinkish crimson in spring, slowly fading to green, with flushes of pink thereafter on new growth. The form of ‘Shindeshojo’ is shrubby and dense, and its young stems are reddish brown to deep purple.

Our expert says:

“This amazing maple has the most brilliant red spring color. It wows in autumn, too, with pastel colors in shades of orange and red.”

– Robert Jamgochian has been collecting rare and exotic maples at Mendocino Maples Nursery in Mendocino, California, for more than 25 years.

Honorable mentions:

‘Katsura’, ‘Ariadne’, ‘Geisha Gone Wild’

 

Best Variegated Foliage

‘Ukigumo’

Name: A. palmatum ‘Ukigumo’

Mature size: Up to 6 feet tall and wide

‘Ukigumo’ stands out for its dense, striking variegation in shades of white, pale green, and pink. This is a small upright tree with attractive horizontal branching. Give it morning sun and afternoon shade for the best color show and to avoid burning its delicate leaves. Gardeners in warm climates might have a less-than-optimal variegation display.

Our expert says:

“This is an extraordinary small tree. The irregular variegation is most pronounced at the tips of the small lobes, where the nearly white ground color is minutely spotted and smeared with green and the lobe edges and tiny teeth often edged in hot pink. Sometimes, whole leaves are stained pink, and on occasion, leaves may be partially or entirely green. The Japanese name translates as ‘floating clouds,’ an entirely appropriate appellation for this lighter-than-air confection.”

– Douglas Justice is a member of the Maple Society and the curator of collections at the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Honorable mentions:

‘Butterfly’, ‘Shirazz’, ‘Manyo no sato’

 

Best Dark Foliage

‘Trompenburg’

Name: A. palmatum ‘Trompenburg’Mature size: 18 to 20 feet tall and wide

The foliage of ‘Trompenburg’ emerges bright red in spring, matures to deep mahogany in summer, and turns crimson red in fall. It’s a somewhat large, fast-growing tree, and it is tolerant of bright sun and heat.

Our expert says:

“The edges of its leaves are attractively rolled under, giving the leaves an unusual and distinctive fingerlike quality. The habit of the plant is strongly upright with layered lateral branching. It’s fantastic in a large container.”

—Douglas Justice

Honorable mentions:

‘Moonfire’, ‘Emperor I’, ‘Burgundy Jewel’

 

Best Weeping Form

‘Inaba-shidare’

Name: A. palmatum ‘Inaba-shidare’

Mature size: Up to 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide

This classic weeping, laceleaf variety fulfills every gardener’s fantasy of a sculptural Japanese maple. The foliage of ‘Inaba-shidare’ emerges deep purple in spring, lightens to burgundy in summer, and brightens to vivid red in fall. The tree’s cascading domelike shape looks especially beautiful near a pond or as the focal point of a bed.

Our expert says:

“You can enjoy this maple as a prominent focal-point planting in any garden, but its small size makes it ideal for patio planters and container gardens, as well. The growth habit, durability, and shape make it the quintessential weeping Japanese-maple cultivar for any location.”

– Matt Nichols is an executive board member of the North American branch of the Maple Society and a co-owner of mrmaple.com, a mail-order Japanese-maple seller in East Flat Rock, North Carolina.

Honorable mentions:

‘Red Dragon’, ‘Ryusen’, ‘Sekimori’

 

Most Unique Variety

‘Shishi-gashira’

Name: A. palmatum* ‘Shishi-gashira’

Mature size: Up to 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide

‘Shishi-gashira’ is a unique, slow-growing variety whose thick, textured leaves grow in layered tufts. Its unusual characteristics make it popular for bonsai and container gardens, where it can be enjoyed close up. It’s a slow grower and can look awkward when young, and the leaves grow more sparsely than when mature. So some patience is required, which will be amply rewarded.

Our expert says:

“This easy-to-grow and sun-tolerant variety has an unusual architectural shape with upright branches and small crinkled leaves. It starts spring a few days earlier than most maples, with new leaves in an electric shade of green like no other you’ve seen. The color gradually deepens to dark green and then turns brilliant orange-red to red and yellow in fall.”

– Keith Johansson is a lifetime member and the current president of the North American branch of the Maple Society and the founder and owner of Metro Maples in Fort Worth, Texas.

Honorable mentions:

‘Fairy Hair’,  ‘Baby Lace’, ‘Korean Gem’

 

Best Fall Color

‘Orangeola’

Name: A. palmatum ‘Orangeola’

Mature size: 8 to 10 feet tall and up to 8 feet wide

Perhaps ‘Orangeola’ wins this category in part because its changeable, brilliant orange-red fall foliage stands out from the more familiar true bright reds of most Japanese maples in fall. But its gracefully cascading, lacy leaves are just as compelling. This variety does particularly well in hot, sunny climates. Expect orange-red spring color that fades to orange-tinted green in summer, with flushes of orange new growth.

Our expert says:

“This vigorous variety is amazing to watch grow as it seems to be a tiny bit different every day. Its dense, weeping habit makes it fun to prune and shape. The fall colors are sometimes orange, sometimes pinkish red, and many times a brilliant deep ruby red several shades darker than most other Japanese maples.”

—Keith Johansson

Honorable mentions:

‘Hogyoku’, ‘Ukon’ A. japonicum’, ‘Dancing Peacock’

 

Best Dwarf Form

‘Mikawa-yatsubusa’

Name: A. palmatum ‘Mikawa-yatsubusa’

Mature size: Up to 5 feet tall and wide

The North American branch of the Maple Society voted ‘Mikawa-yatsubusa’ “Maple of the Year” for 2015. It’s a small slow-growing variety that is popular for bonsai. Its densely layered foliage emerges yellow-green in spring, darkens to rich green in summer, and brightens to golden orange to red in fall.

Our expert says:

“What separates this cultivar from all of the other delightful dwarf Japanese maples is the attractive overlapping leaves that protect the plant against unexpected freezes. The finely toothed, pointed leaves appear to be much longer than other dwarf forms. I get a lot of ‘wows’ in my garden over this little jewel.”

– Vince Dooley, former head football coach and athletics director at the University of Georgia, is now an avid collector of Japanese maples in Athens, Georgia.

Honorable mentions:

‘Sharp’s Pygmy’, ‘Kiyohime’, ‘Kamagata’

 

Best Midsize Tree

‘Orange Dream’

Name: A. palmatum ‘Orange Dream’

Mature size: Up to 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide

This rare maple is slow growing and upright with an almost shrublike form and green bark. It boasts an ongoing show of delicate colors throughout the growing season but is most prizedfor its orange spring color. Give ‘Orange Dream’ afternoon shade for optimal performance.

Our expert says:

“Of the hundreds of varieties I grow each year, ‘Orange Dream’ is one of the most rewarding. The color pageant starts in early spring, when leaves emerge bright orange with darker leaf margins. The color changes from orange to orange-yellow and eventually to yellow-green in midsummer. Autumn brings a show of fiery orange-yellow. The medium vigor and bushy, upright habit make it outstanding for many landscape settings. ‘Orange Dream’ prefers morning sun and afternoon shade to live up to its best color potential.”

– Micah Norcom is the owner of Maplestone Ornamentals, a mail-order nursery in Alliance, Ohio, specializing in Japanese maples and other rare trees.

Honorable mentions:

‘Kinran’, ‘Katsura’, ‘Skeeter’s Broom’

 

Best Threadleaf Variety

‘Koto-no-ito’

Name: A. palmatum* ‘Koto-no-ito’

Mature size: Up to 12 feet tall and wide

This upright, spreading tree’s fine-textured foliage stands out. It emerges crimson in spring, quickly turning green for summer, until it heaps on even more interest with its multi­hued fall show. In winter, the green bark of ‘Koto-no-ito’ lends a bit of color to a dormant garden.

Our expert says:

“This variety is often described as ‘bamboolike.’ The lobes of its green leaves vary slightly in width and catch the light in different ways, adding to the beauty of the tree. Then in fall, an amazing transformation occurs: Suddenly, the foliage becomes a rich copper-gold tapestry overlaid with random shots of scarlet. It shimmers in the slanting autumn light. ‘Koto-no-ito’ was one of my first favorites—and even now that we’ve grown more than 250 different cultivars, I still love it!”

– Sara G. Monte is a co-owner of Wildwood Farm in Kenwood, California, where she specializes in dogwoods, conifers, semidwarf ginkgos, and Japanese maples.

Honorable mentions:

‘Tamukeyama’, ‘Seiryu’, ‘Beni-otake’

 

Best Full-Size Tree

‘Osakazuki’

Name: A. palmatum ‘Osakazuki’

Mature size: Up to 25 feet tall and wide

The foliage of this upright, rounded tree is a pleasant, unassuming rich green all season long, lending a steady presence to a garden. But it’s in fall that ‘Osakazuki’ truly shines, with fall color in a brilliant crimson red that outshines almost every other maple in its intensity.

Our expert says:

“Quickly growing to 18 feet tall (or more) in 10 years, this tree is consistently taller than any other maple in the nursery. Its strong upright form and clear, bright red fall color can be seen for miles.”

– Patricia Smyth is a Japanese-maple specialist and the second-generation owner of Essence of the Tree, a mail-order Japanese-maple nursery in Potter Valley, California.

Honorable mentions:

‘Ezo nishiki’, ‘Shishi-gashira’, ‘Beni-otake’

The Care and Feeding of Japanese Maples

Japanese maples, in general, are fairly easy to grow. Most are hardy in Zones 5 to 8 and prefer moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. But to ensure success, here are a few more factors to consider.

Choose your location wisely

If possible, choose a location away from strong winds or blazing sun. Most varieties prefer either sun-dappled shade or morning sun and afternoon shade—especially in hot, sunny climates where Japanese maples are prone to scorched leaves. Varieties grown for their fall color should be situated in slightly brighter spots.

Fertilize sparingly 

While they are not heavy feeders, Japanese maples do benefit from fertilizer twice yearly: once in spring before leaves emerge and then once more in midsummer. Wait until a year after planting to begin, and fertilize at half the strength recommended on the fertilizer’s label. Most all-purpose fertilizers will suffice.

Mulch generously 

Mulch is highly recommended to insulate the roots of a Japanese maple and to conserve water. A 3- to 5-inch-deep layer of bark mulch or wood chips is best.

Prune carefully 

Prune your Japanese maple every few years to remove deadwood and crossing branches and for minor shaping and maintenance. Prune only from late summer to early winter to avoid excessive sap loss.

Remove snow but not ice 

Japanese maples—especially weeping varieties—are vulnerable to breakage from heavy snow loads, so shake or brush the trees off regularly throughout winter. Ice-covered branches, however, should not be touched because the branches are frozen and can easily crack.

Plant in fall 

Planting in fall, six weeks before the first frost, gives maples a chance to settle in before winter, so they can start off established in spring. Water newly planted trees regularly.

Michelle Gervais is a senior editor.

Plant photos: Doreen Wynja, except: Micah Norcom; Elke Borkowski/gapphotos.com; millettephotomedia.com; Lynn Keddie/gapphotos.com; Richard Bloom/gapphotos.com; Dave Zubraski/gapphotos.com; Clive Nichols/gapphotos.com. Participant

Photos: courtesy of the participant, Branden Eastwood. Illustrations: Abigail Lupoff

Sources:

What is remarkable about Japanese maple? Planting, care and propagation of plants

Maintenance

Leaves are perhaps the most underestimated feature of plants. But it is the leaves of the Japanese maple that are the keys to the successful design of your garden.

Japanese red maple

Japanese maple (Acer Japonicum) and Dlanical maple (Acer Palmatum) - highly suitable Listfoot trees and bushes (in culture) ROD from IPPOY and Korya. These two species, as well as a variety of the second - fan maple (Acer palmatum Dissectum) - create group Japanese maples . Miniature maple varieties grow well in Japan, but can be easily grown in our climate. The most resistant is the green-leaved maple and its red-leaved varieties 'Atropurpureum' and 'Bloodgood'.

Japanese maples grow very slowly and usually reach several meters in height. In Japan, the largest tree at the age of 100 years, reaches 10 meters in height and 40 centimeters in trunk diameter. Usually Japanese maple and palmate maple grow up to 8 m, and fan maple - no more than 2-3 m in height.

When 200 years ago these plants began to be imported from Japan, which had been growing there for centuries, European botanists were stunned by their incredible diversity. Europeans originally christened them with a Latin name - Acer polymorphum . And from this group, perhaps, this Japanese maple was one of the first that was brought to our region. This type of maple has almost round leaves , most of them are up to 15 cm long and consist of 7-, 9-, 11-, 13 feather-like lobes. They are very similar to the human hand. Because of the shape of the leaves, this maple has another name - hauchiwa-Kaede . There are four main varieties Japanese maples: - a typical Japanese maple A. japonicum, in which the shares are connected almost together and the leaf seems to be solid. Other maples: A. japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’, A. japonicum ‘Dissectum’, A. japonicum ‘Vitifolium’.

Japanese maple looks very impressive during flowering in May. Its flowers are red or yellow-green, large, up to 15 mm in diameter. But the most impressive tree is in autumn, when Leaves take on an enchanting color. In direct sunlight, the leaves turn red and purple, shading into bright orange and red. They look stunning! Japanese Maple , Maple Katsura (Acer Palmatum 'Katsura', Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Katsura'), Maple Butterfly (Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’, Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Butterfly’).

Brief description of the most popular varieties:

Japanese Maple Senkaki is an attractive and compact tree, a popular variety that is sure to be appreciated by lovers of Japanese maples. Tree height - up to two meters, suitable for growing in large pots and containers. Leaves lobed, usually with five lobes, turning bright orange in autumn.

Japanese Maple Senkaki (photo):

Maple Garnet - incredibly beautiful maple, you can look at it endlessly, especially in the autumn season. Average height maple is four meters. The main highlight is the unusual spreading crown, as well as the color of the leaves in the autumn months, they turn carmine red.

Maple Garnet (photo):

Japanese maple planting and care

Every gardener will be able to grow a very beautiful Japanese maple. You only need to choose the right place to plant, and also spend a little time caring for it.

Landing. Be sure to select the correct landing site. The ideal place for them would be sunny or partially shaded, protected from the winds. They tolerate some shade but are prettier when grown in full sun. Yes, those trees are do not like transplants. Once you have planted Japanese maples, they should not be repotted because it is very easy to damage their delicate roots.

Japanese maples frost resistant. Concerning soil requirements , they should not be planted in wet soils. Japanese maples are sensitive plants. The soil must contain a high proportion of humus and have slightly acid reaction . If the soil is sandy, then it needs to be enriched with fertile garden soil. Due to the fact that the roots of these plants grow close to the ground, it is necessary to level the place where they are planted well. Thus, you will be able to create thermal insulation layer , which will perform its protective function both in winter and in summer. It is also necessary to cover young maple seedlings in winter as these plants may suffer from frost. Also, in early spring, shelter will contribute to a not too fast development of their kidneys.

Japanese Maple ideal for planting in containers . And all thanks to his compact growth . But for the winter, plants in tubs should be moved to a frost-free room. It grows slowly and is also very picturesque. Besides being easy to grow, Japanese Maple will provide you with a lot of joy in summer and autumn with its beautiful leaves that change color with the onset of cold weather. Expect fireworks of fiery red, brown, yellow and orange leaves.

Care. After planting the young maple must be fed . The first top dressing is a month after planting, then they are fed once every four weeks. Suitable compound fertilizer and compost. After the winter period, be sure to remove frozen branches. Gardeners do not recommend cutting tree crowns, because Japanese maple pleases exactly with its natural beauty. Also, don't forget Mulch the soil before the start of the winter season. In hot weather be sure to watch the soil, maple does not like dry soil . Sometimes the leaves of the plant are also sprayed, do it in hot weather. Maple pest - gall mite . Watch the leaves carefully, if you see something suspicious, it is better to remove the leaf immediately .

Japanese maple seeds

Many varieties of maple seeds fall in autumn, but there are varieties whose seeds can be collected in summer. The seeds are medium in size, most often brown in color, they are often called “helicopters” by the people, because they very slowly fall to the ground, and at the same time rotate. There are some difficulties when growing maple from seeds. It all depends on the chosen variety. It is easiest to grow maples, in which the seeds fall in spring or summer.

After you collected seeds , they need to be placed in the cold. It is best to put the seeds in an airtight bag beforehand (zippered lunch bags are suitable). The collected seeds are placed in the refrigerator. Each variety has its own temperature , the best option is 3-5 degrees Celsius. check the seed bag constantly to make sure there is no condensation or excess moisture on it. Seeds are taken out after 120 days. Seeds of some varieties can be planted after 90 cold days. Germinated seeds can only be planted in small containers when a second layer of leaves has appeared on a small sprout. Now you can plant the tree in the ground.

Japanese fan maple

Fan maple is a marvelous decoration of every garden or park. It is an excellent compact tree that impresses with the beauty of its leaves. Fan maple is one of the varieties of Japanese maple, because the historical Homeland trees - Japan, and also grows naturally in China and Korea. The tree is very compact, height is about eight meters. Crown very unusual, dense, spherical. Sometimes it has several trunks. The leaves of the fan maple are very beautiful and large, the average length is 12 centimeters and the width is four centimeters. The leaf is divided into lobes. Blooms mainly in spring, small flowers in inflorescences, appear later Lionfish.

Garden use. Japanese Maple will look very good in a private garden as well as in city parks. Its interesting and very bright leaves attract attention. You can make it the main accent on your territory, because in autumn it is very difficult not to notice this tree. Japanese maple is very effectively combined with large stones or boulders, and even with small pebbles, which can be scattered near the tree root. The canopy provides shade so you can plant near the tree ferns or other shade-tolerant plants. Landscape designers with good taste can create very unusual compositions using maple and coniferous plants , as well as combining maple trees and flowering shrubs . The main thing is not to overshadow this beautiful tree!

Japanese maple photo

Japanese maple buy

You can buy Japanese maple in our Florium store

Published: 27.10.2021

Tags: palmate maple Japanese maple Japanese maples

← Share with your friends !

description and varieties of red maple, planting and care + photo

Amateur gardeners and landscape designers are sensitive to rare ornamental plants. Japanese maple can become the pride of every garden. The natural range of its distribution is limited to the islands of Japan, South Korean coasts and the Russian island of Kunashir. It grows more often in mountainous areas.

Leaves like those of our maple - cut up to half the diameter into several slices (from 7 to 11), large (coverage up to 15 centimeters). Depending on the variety, the dissection of the leaves may be different, sometimes they are strongly pinnate. Petioles, on which leaves grow, 3-5 cm long, can be pubescent.

Due to the magnificent color of the leaves, the maple of this species has become so popular, the crowns of the handsome Japanese are flying in the middle of the garden like a red flame. Some of its species have purple-red foliage throughout the growing season, others change color from green to yellow and crimson.

Small bright flowers appear before the leaves in spring. Of these, wings are formed. These are seed-fruits up to 3 centimeters long, with the help of which plants of this genus reproduce.

Oriental maples are grown outdoors and in special tubs.

Species and interesting varieties

Japanese maple has several subspecies, and breeders have bred amazing varieties that no one can pass by indifferently. They differ in the form of a tree and leaves, exactingness to the conditions of detention. There can be both tall specimens and short ones.

It should be noted that culturally bred varieties are much more picturesque and are much more common than basic natural varieties. In addition to the main species described above, others are also grown.

Fan-shaped (pallet-shaped)

The original shape of the tree has a spreading crown with beautiful, carved leaves. The long-lobed leaves are lacy and remain golden yellow or red throughout the season. Having thrown off foliage, this plant remains a decoration of the garden, thanks to graceful branches. It blooms red in June, many varieties have been created on its basis.

Shirasawa Maple

A rare variety up to 15 meters high, there are shrubs of a short outline. The leaf plate is not strongly dissected, large. A prominent representative of this species is Aureum. This shrub grows up to 4 meters high, has a yellow-orange leaf with a border around the edge. A fairly winter-hardy variety, but they like to cultivate it in tub conditions.

Aconitoleaf

Gorgeous maple, almost completely dissected leaves are green in summer. In autumn the tree turns crimson.

Orange Dream

Yellowish-green leaves with a red border turn to red-orange. Orange Dream grows fast and is tall.

Bloodgood

A very ornamental shrub with openwork outlines of dark red leaves, almost inky. Even in the shade does not lose the dark color of the foliage.

Mikawa yatsubusa

Height 1.5 meters, bush dense and squat. The leaves are needle-shaped, green in spring, scarlet in autumn.

Shaina

SONY DSC

One and a half meters in 10 years - this tree grows to such a height. It is distinguished by a dense bushy crown, its leaves are deeply cut. When it turns blood red, it becomes especially attractive. Shaina is planted in containers, decorating terraces and verandas, halls of houses with them.

Kiyohime

Japanese red maple variety reaches 1.8 meters in adulthood. The green leaves are edged with red and cut. The saturation of the color retains in partial shade.

Beni Kawa

Light leaves, original red bark.

Dissectum Garnet

Finely divided conifer-like leaves are green in spring, becoming reddish-purple or orange-yellowish by autumn. A very beautiful, attractive appearance gives the tree a huge crown coverage, almost twice its height. Such drooping varieties of shrubs should be placed near ponds or arbors.

Aka shigitatsu sawa

Tree 3 meters high or so. This plant has peculiar pink or red dissected leaves. Likes semi-shade.

Wilson's Pink Dwarf

Fan maple not very hardy. The height of the shrub in adult form is 2.5 meters, the coverage is less than 1 meter. The leaves grow on red branches and are orange in color.

Shirazz

Deeply cut green leaves with a pink or red border give a spectacular look. By the end of the season, it changes color to purple.

Where to buy seedlings, where and how to plant

Do not buy Japanese maple seeds on the Internet from unknown sellers. It is advisable to come to a nursery or shop that sells certified trees and buy a tree.

It is better to buy seedlings in spring or autumn; you need to make sure that the bush is not damaged. Should be planted immediately.

Japanese maple varieties love diffused shade and permeability of the soil. It is not necessary to choose too alkaline soils and cultivate the land with lime.

The soil must be sufficiently fertile or slightly acidic, always loose.

Planting

  • Dig a hole twice the size of the plant's root system;
  • Pour drainage into the hole, then humus or compost with peat;
  • Moisten and straighten the roots, put a tree, sprinkle with earth and water;
  • Mulch around tree trunks to retain moisture.

Propagation

Produced by seeds, both in nature and under cultural conditions. Seed material must be fresh.

  • Before planting, the seeds are stratified by placing them in sand (it should not be wet) and kept in a cold room all winter;
  • In the spring planted in containers with special soil, can be treated with growth stimulants;
  • In autumn, the strongest shoots are left to winter in a cool place in the same container, where the temperature is always positive;
  • Transplant shoots into separate pots next spring;
  • Seedlings that have reached 30 centimeters are planted in a permanent place - in open ground, a tub or a pot.

Japanese red maples can be propagated vegetatively by grafting cuttings onto palmate rootstock. This procedure often ends in failure.

Care

Domestic gardeners plant undersized varieties of Japanese maple. If it will grow in a container, then it must be fed regularly with mineral compounds. Suitable fertilizer for heather crops. It will also need more frequent watering.

Plant roots do not like stagnant water, they can rot. Therefore, watering should be plentiful, but timely.

Rejuvenating pruning should be carried out on old and dense trees. It is done in the fall, after the leaves have fallen. Sanitary removal of broken and diseased branches is carried out every year in the spring. It is also necessary for the prevention of fungus.

Preparing for winter

In summer, you need to start preparing the maple tree for winter. Finish feeding, watering and loosening. In late autumn, remove all leaves from the bush, and after the first freezing, spray the branches with a weak (3%) copper-containing solution.

In the northern regions of Russia, it is still safer to plant this crop in tubs and bring it into a cool room for the winter period. Wintering is also practiced right in pots laid on their side in the garden, in a shallow trench.

In the middle lane, they practice covering for the winter with garden non-woven material. Well, if the winter is snowy, then the maple can survive it stably.

Care in the spring

With the advent of spring, it is necessary to awaken the tub plant so that it adapts and grows faster. To do this, after the frost has left, on warm days, the tree is shed with plenty of water.

Attention! Tender young leaves will inevitably burn in the sun in the spring. To prevent this, the potted plant is removed in partial shade or covered, just like an open ground plant, with a light covering material.

Japanese maple in landscaping

The short height allows the plant to grow successfully in tubs. The advantage of this method is that the container can be moved from one place to another, saving from the sun or removed for the winter, and also placed in different parts of the garden from time to time.

Pots are also placed on stands to make them more visible.

Learn more