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Small japanese maple trees


Buy Dwarf Japanese Maples – Mr Maple │ Buy Japanese Maple Trees

We only ship Japanese maples within the continental United States of America.

When you buy a Japanese maple from MrMaple.com, due to the high volume during the COVID-19 situation, your order of Japanese maple trees will be shipped out within 2 weeks. We greatly appreciate your understanding during these times.

We have custom boxes that extra thick and allow for the safest shipment of your Japanese maples. Our new custom boxes allow us to ship your Japanese maple trees in their container, making the smoothest transition from our nursery to your garden. These boxes can fit two Japanese maples easily inside each box. You will simply need a pair of scissors to cut the tape around the box and pull your Japanese maple out.

Location is something that should be considered. Nearly all Japanese maples can handle growing in the shade or getting morning sun and afternoon shade. For planting trees in the sun it is important to make sure you are getting a selection that can handle full sun in your area. We have plenty of Japanese maples that grow and do well in full sun in Zone 8. When you get to zone 9, many of the Japanese maples should be planted with protection from the hot afternoon sun. There are a few maples we carry that can handle full sun in zone 9.

One of the most important things to remember is that Japanese maples do not like wet feet. This means that heavily boggy areas will need raised beds that allow drainage for the Japanese maple roots. This can simply be done by raising the area where you will be planting the Japanese maple with more soil.

The hole should be dug 1.5 times bigger than than container the Japanese maple is in. This extra size is primarily to losen the soil for the roots of your Japanese maple which will allow for it to get established quicker. Take the Japanese maple out of the container and place it in the hole. The main thing to remember when planting a Japanese maple is that it should be planted level with where the soil level was in the container. This is important as Japanese maples planted too deeply do not perform well in the landscape. This means that you will have to put part of the soil that you already dug back into the hole before planting.

People often ask where or not they should condition their soil for the Japanese maple. For the most part, you shouldn't. Japanese maples can do well in both sandy soils and clay soils. When you ammend the soil they have to get established in your ammendments and then get established in the exterior soil.

Japanese maples have a non-invasive root system that makes them ideal for container growing and bonsai culture. This will allow you to bring the ornamental appeal of Japanese maple to your deck, patio, poolside, and driveway expanding your garden. The concept of how big a Japanese maple will get in a container is similar to that of how big a goldfish will get inside a bowl. A Japanese maple will grow the size container it is put in. A small container will dwarf the size of the tree from the size the tree would naturally be in the landscape. Dwarf Japanese maples are often used in containers because they get fairly close to full-size in most containers. The best tip for container growing is a well-drained pot.

Steps:

1. Choose your Japanese maple based on the location you plan on growing your container grown maple (ex. Sun or shade?).

2. Select the container you would like to use. The primary thing to look for is good drainage. You may be able to drill extra holes in non-ceramic containers. At least one drain hole is necessary. For containers with only one drain hole, you may consider lining the bottom of the container with 1-2 inches of medium sized gravel to increase drainage.

3. Soil should be selected based on how frequently you plan on watering the plant. For Japanese maples that will be regularly watered by an irrigation system, a soil with more perlite is ideal. An example of this would be a regular bag of miracle grow mix. For maples that will not be on a regular irrigation system, make sure to add more peat moss to the mixture. This will allow for the maple itself to retain a higher amount of moisture. When adding the soil to the container make sure to keep the root collar and trunk of the Maple at the same level it was in it’s previous container. It is also good to leave at least 1/2 inch to 2 inches of the top lip of the container free from soil. This allows for the maple to be watered effectively.

4. Select a companion plant such as small sedums that can cover the soil-surface to reduce heat and moisture loss for the roots of the maple. When choosing a companion plant it is essential to use only plants with extremely shallow and tiny root systems that will not grow into the roots of the maple.

5. Water frequently based on the finger test. If the soil around your Japanese maple feels dry, water.

6. For small containers (smaller than a nursery 3 gallon) check the root system of your Japanese maple during the winter every 3 years. If the root ball is getting very thick, trim the root system leaving 3/4 of the root system. Add soil as necessary. For larger containers, you can go much longer without root pruning the roots of your Japanese maple. We suggest checking every 7-8 years. For those that do not want to root prune, you can always upgrade your Japanese maple to a larger pot size or put the tree in the landscape, however, with a few minutes of root pruning every few years a Japanese maple can stay in any pot for its entire life.

*Japanese maples that have been stressed should be given Super Thrive at recommended doses from the bottle. This can often be purchased at Wal-Mart or your local garden center or department store. This simply gives Japanese maples the proper nutrients and hormones that will help it heal and recover and help it get back into a growing mode.

Japanese maples are extremely easy to care for. The less you do the better. Japanese maples do not like a lot of nitrogen so fertilizers are not necessary. Fertilizers with low amounts of nitrogen can be used in the early spring and mid-summer, however it is not necessary.

Trimming your Japanese maple can actually make your tree grow faster. If you trim the smaller branches back leaving larger and thicker branching with buds, your tree will often grow very quickly. This is because you get a cleaner flow or nutrients from Japanese maples that have been trimmed. It is like excersing your Japanese maples. It is best to do this in the early spring right before your Japanese maple leafs out. This is typically around the late February to early March time period for us in North Carolina. The main trick for trimming is to never trim more than 45% of your tree off. Yes, that means you can trim a Japanese maple heavily. Remember to clean your pruning tools with rubbing alcohol. This helps keep your pruning tools sanitized which helps your Japanese maple stay healthy.

Steps for Pruning:

1. Start out by pruning out branches you don't like on your Japanese maple. If the branch is larger than 3/4 of an inch in diameter we recommend using a saw. Large branches you don't like only get bigger so it is best to prune them out early in the tree's life.

2. Prune out the twiggier smaller branching. Smaller branching only makes smaller branching. This means these will make the tree grow slower. By pruning your Japanese maple and leaving the large branching you will get a larger tree quicker.

3. Trim out conflicting branching on your Japanese maple. This means if two limbs are touching are are too close, one of them should be trimmed out. A lot of pruning is judgement calls. Picking which one stays and which one goes will be a judgement call that only the owner or the pruner can make.

4. If you are trimming an upright selection, make sure to keep one branch as a central leader. This is typically the tallest part of the tree on most upright Japanese maples. If you are trimming a dwarf or a laceleaf Japanese maple, you can trim the Japanese maple to accentuate the natural shape of the tree. This can be done with laceleaf types by trimming your Japanese maple to create different levels of branching.

5. Trim out the fishtails. When there are three small branches coming out of the terminal buds on the end of a branch, it is often good to trim out the middle branch. This gives room for the other two branches and allows them have more energy.

While trimming is not necessary, if you follow these steps, your Japanese maple should grow much quicker for you.

Refund Policy:

Any customers with damaged trees from shipment must notify MrMaple.com by phone within 3 days of delivery. After photo confirmation of the damage an assessment will be made and store credit or replacement tree may be issued.

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Japanese Maples Under 10 Feet A-M — Sunnyside Nursery

*Please contact us to find out more about our current availability*

We are a retail garden center servicing our local communities & currently not able to ship our products

Abigail Rose

A beautiful dwarf variety that has subtle reticulated leaves that have variegation in spring & orange coloring in fall. Can only tolerate morning sun & needs to be planted in a place with good air flow. Great for growing in containers. Reaches roughly 4’ X 3’ in size.

Adrian’s Compact

A nice upright, compact tree, with small burgundy-red leaves that is great for small spaces. Spring color is red & fall color includes bright orange & red. Reaches roughly 10’ X 6’ in size.

Aka Hosada

A great strap-leaf variety that does well in the sun. Has bright red coloring in the springtime & that turns a crimson red in the fall. Reaches roughly 10’ X 8’ in size.

Aka Kawa Hime

A dwarf, bushy cord-bark maple. Has a great green spring color that turns bright gold in the fall. Reaches roughly 8’ X 6’ in size.

Akane

A wonderful very showy Acer palmatum that emerges with bright orange-yellow spring leaves that has pink margins.  The beautiful spring color lasts for over a month, with the leaves turning to a chartruese green in the spring & summer.   Fall color is orange to yellow.   Has a habit that is a compact semi-dwarf tree that reaches roughly 10' X 8' in size.

Amagi Shigure

A slow-growing, upright grower with bright brick-red leaves with prominent black veins in Spring. Fall color is vivid orange, red and purple. Also called “Purple Passion”, is great for containers & reaches roughly 8’ X 4’ in size.

Amber Ghost

A gorgeous reticulated variety that does its best in morning sun. Has beautiful variegation on its leaves in spring that change to an orange-red in the fall. Reaches roughly 10’ X 8’ in size.

Ariadne

Has beautiful reticulated leaves and does well in shade. Spring color is orange-pink changing to orange-red in the fall. Reaches roughly 8’ X 6’ in size.

Baby Ghost

A broad, upright Acer palmatum tree with greenish purple leaves. Fall color is a fantastic orange-red. A broad tree that prefers sun/partial shade in well-drained soil.  Reaches roughly 8' X 6' in size.

Beni Hime

A dwarf, shrubby tree with small, rounded star-shaped leaves. New growth is pinkish red with red margins on green base. Remains both red & green through summer becoming more intensely red & purple in fall.  A rare Acer palmatum cultivar that makes a great bonsai plant & is great for growing in containers.  Reaches roughly 3' X 4' in size.

Beni Hoshi

A compact dwarf Acer palmatum tree with an upright form, perfect for growing in containers.  Small red leaves in spring are very cute, then turn to yellow & orange in fall. The Japanese name means "red star." Prefers sun/partial shade in well-drained soil.  Reaches roughly 8' X 6' in size.

Bihou

An Acer palmatum whose name means "beautiful mountain range." Chartreuse new leaves appear edged in red before turning a more medium green for summer. Fall color is yellow sometimes blended with orange. The real interest happens in winter when the bark turns orange-yellow and glows.  Reaches roughly 10' X 10' in size.

Coral Magic

One of the best Japanese maple varieties for spring. It spring coloring is coral with yellow that eventually turns to a variety of orange tones in the fall. Has a nice short & bushy habit that makes it ideal for growing in containers. Reaches roughly 6’ X 4’ in size.

Cynthia's Crown Jewel

A new dwarf shrub-like Japanese maple with a low mounding habit. Flushes out dainty rose colored leaves that are ribbon-like. Foliage then turns to a pleasant green color during the summer. Come fall, Cynthia's Crown Jewel turns a brilliant orange-red. A rare and delicate and Japanese maple that is great for growing in containers. Reaches roughly 4' X 3' in size.

Dr. Seuss

A variety ideal for growing in containers that has a tight growth & an interesting bushy grow habit. Has nice yellow green coloring in the spring & yellow to orange coloring in the fall. Reaches 5’ X 3’ in size.

Dragon Tears

Has strong horizontal branching with unique, pendulous branch tips. Leaves emerge crimson red, maturing to burgundy red and transitioning to rusty red in the fall. Reaches roughly 10' X 8' in size.

Elizabeth

A compact growing variety that can take heat well. Has red to purple coloring in the spring that changes to scarlet tones in the fall. Reaches 6’ X 4’ in size.

Fairy Hair

An Acer palmatum variety that is a unique & rare.  Great as a bonsai, in containers, or as an accent in a small space. Has long & lacy foliage that emerges light green in spring.  Foliage blazes with bright red & orange coloration in fall. Reaches roughly 4' X 4'.

First Ghost

A striking variety that as bright variegation. Does its best in a spot with shade or morning sun. Coloring is a cream with green variegation in the spring, changing to a yellow-orange in the fall. Reaches roughly 10’ X 8’ in size.

Garnet Tower

A naturally tall laceleaf maple variety. Has bright red colored leaves in the springtime that turn a vibrant crimson in the fall. Reaches roughly 10’ X 10’ in size.

Geisha Gone Wild

An Acer palmatum variety that is a small deciduous tree that has leaves with purple-pink, white & green spring coloration. Fall color is purple-orange. Perfect for growing in containers. Prefers sun/partial shade in well-drained soil.  Reaches roughly 6' X 3' in size.

Ghost Dancer

A gorgeous variegated variety that needs afternoon shade. Has stunning green & white variegation in the spring & orange to yellow tones in the fall. Reaches 10’ X 8’ in size.

Gold Digger

A striking variety that has bright yellow bark in the winter that makes it a winter interest standout. Leaves are a bright green color in spring that change to yellow with orange coloring in the fall. Reaches roughly 10’ X 6’ in size.

Grandma Ghost

An Acer palmatum variety that is an upright deciduous tree. Leaves appear in shades of amber, cream-white & pale green that contrast marvelously with vibrant pink veins. Fall color includes gold & red. Prefers sun/partial shade in well-drained soil. Reaches roughly 8' X 4' in size.

Hime Shojo

An Acer palmatum variety that has new growth of very bright almost cherry red that changes to a classic dark maroon. This dense little shrubby tree holds its color very well long into the summer. Although the best colors are achieved in full sun, a little shade at some part of the day is appreciated in hotter climates. Fall color is a bright cherry red.  Does well in containers & small spaces.  Reaches roughly 6' X 4' in size.

Ikandi

This a stunning variety that is definitely eye candy! Has striking pink, green and white variegation in the spring that eventually changes a golden yellow in the fall. Reaches roughly 10’ X 6’ in size.

Jerre Schwarz

A nice colorful dwarf variety that is perfect for growing in containers. Leaves are pinky red in the spring with great color change in the fall to fiery orange red. Reaches roughly 6’ X 4’ in size.

Johnnie's Pink

An Acer palmatum small deciduous tree with a delicate branching habit. Small leaves emerge in shades of bright pink then darken to deep brown-red, before turning to medium green for summer. Fall color is orange to red. Prefers sun/partial shade in well-drained soil.  Reaches roughly 8' X 4' in size.

Jubilee

An upright Acer palmatum variety whose form is softened by branches that are somewhat cascading. An excellent variegated variety that needs afternoon shade. Has deep pink to green spring color & red tones in the fall. Reaches roughly 8’ X 8’ in size.

Kamagata

An elegant looking dwarf Acer palmatum that is durable & hardy. Perfect for growing in containers. As the leaves unfold in the spring the edges are tinted with red to rusty red. The early summer foliage becomes a bright light green. The fall colors are outstanding shades of fiery red with an occasional touch of yellow & orange.  Performs very well in full sun & reaches roughly 8' X 8' in size.

Kandy Kitchen

A great red dwarf variety that is perfect for growing in containers. Leaves are a rich cherry red color in the springtime that change to a deep scarlet red in the fall. Reaches roughly 6’ x 6’ in size.

Katsura Hime

A dwarf version of ‘Katsura’, that has spectacular spring & fall color. Leaves start a yellow orange in the spring & change to an orange yellow in the fall. Reaches roughly 8’ X 6’ in size.

Kiyohime

A vigorous Acer palmatum dwarf whose small light green leaves emerge bright green with red margins in the spring. Leaves turn glossy & dark green with purple-red margins by summer.  A great variety for containers.  Reaches roughly 8' X 10' in size.

Kiyohime Yatsubusa

A variety great for containers that is a little smaller than 'Kiyohime'. Leaves are green with red in the springtime and change to a yellow orange in the fall. Reaches roughly 2’ X 6’ in size.

Koto maru

One of the best maples for fall! A wonderful dwarf variety that is great for growing in containers. Leaves are yellow to green in the spring & reds, oranges and yellows in the fall. Reaches roughly 4’ x 5’ in size.

Koto no Ito

An Acer palmatum that has been described as the dancing monkey tree for the way the extremely narrow lobes dance in the wind. The habit is upright & very nice. Spring color is green with fall color as a wonderful yellow moving towards gold & finishing blended with orange. Reaches roughly 10' X 8' in size.

Kurenai Jishi

A red “lion’s head” maple that is an excellent variety. A very handsome compact dwarf that is ideal for containers.  New foliage emerges bright red, maturing to copper-red.  Reaches roughly 4' X 3' in size.

Little Sango

A dwarf coral bark maple that has excellent bark color & a dense, upright form. Bright green spring leaves turn yellows to reds in the fall. Newer stems are bright red in winter. Reaches roughly 8’ X 6’ in size.

Mannyo No Sato

A small Acer palmatum deciduous tree with irregular green & purple variegated leaves. Makes a wonderful attraction in spring & summer and is great for containers. Fall color is purple & orange. Prefers sun/partial shade in well-drained soil.  Reaches roughly 8' x 6' in size.

Mikawa Yatsubusa

An outstanding dwarf Acer palmatum that is arguably one of the top three bonsai maples - also great in containers.  This dwarf tree has outstanding structure, color & dense foliage.  Leaves overlap one another like shingles on a roof & unfold in the spring a light yellow-green color. A medium green colored summer leaf turns golden-orange with bright red tips in the fall. Reaches roughly 6' X 6' in size.

Mikazuki

Bushy, upright Acer palmatum with narrow-lobed leaves in lovely pink blush over white with green reticulation. Color holds well through summer. Name means "crescent moon" in Japanese. Prefers sun/partial shade in well-drained soil.  Reaches roughly 8' X 5' in size.

Mini Maple

A stunning new dwarf variety that is perfect for containers & bonsai. Leaves are green with red edges in the Spring & turn bright, vibrant red with orange in the Fall. Reaches roughly 2’ X' 2’ in size.

*Our availability changes constantly, so please contact us for more detailed information*

If for some reason you can't find what you're looking for in our stock, you can order directly from Monrovia & have it shipped here to the nursery for FREE!

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 keep an eye on 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. Always check the seed bag for any moisture or condensation. 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 root of the tree. The canopy provides shade so you can plant near the tree ferns or other shade-tolerant plants. Landscape designers with good taste will be able to create very unusual compositions using maple and coniferous plants , as well as combining maples and flowering shrubs . The main thing is not to overshadow this beautiful tree!

Japanese maple photo

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Published: 27. 10.2021

Tags: palmate maple Japanese maple Japanese maples

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Japanese maple: photo, planting and care

Contents

  • General information with a description of the varieties
  • Planting and care
  • Reproduction
  • Maple in the garden

In summer and autumn, they fascinate with the beauty of their leaves, and in winter - with an unusual crown structure, with a great many thin branches.

General information with cultivar descriptions

Japanese maples include palmate maple (Acer palmatum), fan maple (Dissectum), and Japanese maple (Acer japonicum), as well as numerous varieties bred on their basis by breeders.

As the name suggests, Japanese maples are native to the Land of the Rising Sun. All of them are distinguished by decorative carved leaves of purple and bright orange colors and shades, and a beautiful crown structure.

The sizes of Japanese maples, depending on the species, are from 2-3 meters to 8 meters in height. Palm maples are taller, and fan maples are short. The flowers are not large, have a yellow-green or red color, which depends on the variety. Lionfish seeds grow from the flowers, which scatter over long distances, growing into new trees. Many Japanese maples are distinguished by their decorative crown and bark. Due to these features, the tree becomes a real decoration of the garden or greenhouse.

In addition to the basic varieties, there are many hybrid forms bred in Japan. Each of these forms has a name that conveys the peculiarity of the variety, the main thing is to understand them correctly.

  • Shirasawa maple (Acer shirasawanum) is one of the smallest, about 1.5 meters high. Its leaves are wide, with a border around the edges, yellow-orange in color.
  • 'Bloodgood' has a unique inky black leaf color.
  • Beni Kava variety has bright scarlet, light leaves and fiery red, ruby ​​bark.
  • Katsura variety has red young leaves that turn green in summer and golden in autumn.
  • 'Nicholsonii' has green leaves in summer and brick red leaves in autumn.
  • 'Aconitifolium' - multi-stemmed, with curved branches and dark red foliage.
  • Variety "Mikawa yatsubusa" is distinguished by its small size - up to 1.5 meters, dense, squat crown. Its leaves consist of thin, needle-shaped lobes, bright green in summer and orange-red in autumn.
  • "Shino Buga Oka" variety is not tall, from 1 meter to 1.2-1.3 meters in height. The plant is very spreading, with ornamental leaves that are bright green in summer and yellow-orange in autumn.

Planting and care

In the wild, Japanese maple grows well in humus-rich, slightly acidic soil. Prefers semi-shady places and a stable level of humidity.

Japanese maple does not like strongly alkaline soils, places with stagnant moisture and poor water permeability. However, drying out and the scorching rays of the daylight also have a bad effect on the decorativeness of its leaves. More than others, varieties of Japanese maples with two-color or bordered leaves suffer from direct sunlight, such varieties should be planted in partial shade.

Best of all, the decorative properties of these plants appear in abundant, diffused light. In a park or garden, they will feel good in places where the sun is in the morning and in the evening, and where it does not look during the day. The choice of a place for planting maple is facilitated by the fact that it is not afraid of drafts.

It must be remembered that Japanese maples are heat-loving plants, they do not tolerate spring frosts that damage young leaves. Due to the low frost resistance in Central Russia, trees need to be wrapped with covering material for the winter, for example, garden fleece.

In areas with a mild climate in winter, maple branches must be freed from adhering wet snow to protect them from breakage, fan maple is especially affected by snow. But when the branches are covered with ice after a “hot rain” or a thaw, they should not be touched - they will break.

In summer, especially during drought, maple trees need to be watered abundantly and often, spraying the leaves in the morning or evening. In conditions of lack or excess of moisture, under the influence of dry and hot wind, under the scorching sun, the tree will experience real stress, which will make itself felt by drying the tips of the leaves and dropping the leaves.

If this happens, the maple begins to be watered more often, sprayed, and top dressing is canceled. These measures will help bring it back to life, and new leaves will appear on it even in summer.

In spring and autumn, the soil around the trunk should be mulched with leaf humus, tree bark, garden compost, wood chips. Mulching is of great importance for a tree - protection from drying out of the soil in summer, protection of roots from freezing in winter, additional fertilizer all year round.

To keep the trunk from rotting, do not put organic materials used for mulching next to it.

In spring, fertilizer granules are applied to the soil under the tree, and only then it is covered with mulch from humus or compost, and sprinkled with colored chips on top. Spring top dressing with slow-acting fertilizers will be enough for the maple for the whole year, nitrogenous fertilizers are categorically contraindicated for it.

If the maple grows on poor soil, it must be fed twice a year with long-acting minerals - in spring and summer.

As for pruning, it is carried out only on mature and old thickened trees that have lost their former decorative effect. They need pruning in order to make the crown more transparent, lighter, and open to air and sunlight - these measures will be an excellent prevention of fungal diseases. Pruning should be done during the dormant period - in early spring or late autumn, when there are no leaves on the tree.

Young maples do not need pruning, the trees grow very slowly and form a beautiful crown naturally.

Propagation

Japanese maple is propagated by seeds both in natural conditions and in cultivation. Seeds must be fresh, they are harvested as they ripen, most often in October.

Seeds for stratification are placed in dry sand and removed to a cool place. In the spring, they are sown in a container, pre-treated with growth-stimulating agents.

Seedlings do not grow too much over the summer, but already in this state, strong seedlings can be separated from weak ones. Weak ones are removed, and strong ones are sent for the winter to a cool room with a positive temperature. In the spring they are transplanted into tubs or pots, and when they reach a height of 30 centimeters or more, they are planted in open ground, in a tub or in a greenhouse for a permanent place. If the maple is to grow in a tub, the soil in it should be rich in organic fertilizers.

Another type of propagation of Japanese maples is grafting cuttings onto a strong stock of a similar type, for example, palmate maple.

Maple in the garden

In regions with cold climates, Japanese maples are grown in tubs, which are brought into a cool room for the winter. Growing maple trees in a tub has another advantage - the ability to move them, if necessary, in the shade, in the sun or in a place protected from wind, hail and rain.

Since the trees are stunted, in Japan, tubs with them are placed on a stand so that their wonderful beauty is better seen.

Needless to say, an ornamental tree goes well with other garden inhabitants - shrubs, trees, flowers, ornamental grasses. The tree will decorate with itself any corner of the garden - a reservoir, a rockery, a stone Japanese garden.

Maples, whose leaves become most decorative in autumn, will look good next to autumn flowers - chrysanthemums, oaks, asters. They can be planted next to a tree in order to finally admire the colorful and bright beauty of the autumn garden.

Japanese maples make good neighbors for low-growing evergreen shrubs after shearing, such as boxwood, juniper, and ornamental conifers.

In extreme cases, you can do without flowers and shrubs - just cover the ground around the painted with small gravel or chips.

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