Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum): Varieties, Culture, and Landscape Uses

Maples range from large shade trees to dainty shrub-trees, all bearing wingnut-like seed capsules. Many offer superb fall color—visit nurseries in autumn to see local performance. Large maples have extensive fibrous roots needing constant moisture; occasional deep watering and periodic feeding keep roots deep. Prune medium/large maples minimally; on smaller types, prune to accentuate natural shape. To minimize sap bleed, cut in summer/early fall (mild winters) or summer through January (freezing winters).

Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)

Native to Japan and Korea. Slow to 20 feet with equal or greater spread, typically multi-stemmed. Most airy and delicate maple. Leaves 2–4 inches, deeply cut into 5–9 toothed lobes. Four-season interest: glowing red spring growth, soft green summer, scarlet/orange/yellow fall, slender leafless branches in greens/reds for winter pattern.

Grafted cultivars are popular, but seedlings are more rugged, faster, more drought-tolerant, and tolerate more sun/wind. Thrive in the Northwest; good small street trees. In California, shelter from hot, dry, constant winds. Filtered shade best; full sun acceptable. Where azaleas struggle with salt buildup, Japanese maples show leaf-edge burn. Resistant to oak root fungus.

Uses: north/east walls, patios, entryways, small lawn trees, groves (like birches), under oaks with ferns/azaleas, alongside pools, tubs, bonsai. Natural horizontal growth habit makes pruning easy. Grafted forms are smaller, more weeping/spreading, brighter foliage, more finely cut leaves.

Popular Cultivars

• ‘Atropurpureum’: Purplish/bronze leaves, brighter in sun, holds color all summer.
• ‘Bloodgood’: Vigorous upright to 15 ft, blackish red bark, deep red spring/summer foliage, scarlet fall.
• ‘Burgundy Lace’: 12x15 ft, deeply cut burgundy leaves, bright green branchlets.
• ‘Crimson Queen’: Small shrubby 9-ft mound, finely cut deep red leaves, scarlet fall.
• ‘Dissectum’ (‘Dissectum Viridis’): 6x12 ft, drooping branches, pale green leaves turn gold in fall.
• ‘Ever Red’ (‘Dissectum Nigrum’): 7-ft weeping mound, silvery-haired red new growth, purple-red lacy foliage, crimson fall.
• ‘Osakazuki’: Upright, round-topped 20–25 ft, large leaves turn rich green to brilliant crimson—considered best fall color. Tolerates sun/heat.
• ‘Oshio Beni’: Upright 20 ft, bronzy purplish summer leaves, long arching branches.
• ‘Sango Kaku’: Fast young growth to 20–25 ft, striking red twigs/buds pre-leafout, gold-apricot fall, coral red winter bark. Steep crotch angles risk breakage in wet snow.
• ‘Seiryu’: Only widely sold upright laceleaf, 10–12 ft, reddish spring, green summer, gold-crimson fall.
• ‘Shishigashira’: Vase-shaped, slow 10–15 ft, dense dark green crinkled leaves resist sunburn, yellow-orange fall. Collector’s favorite.
• ‘Waterfall’: Weeping mound 4–6 ft high, twice as wide, fernlike green leaves, brilliant yellow/gold fall.
• ‘Wolff’: Vigorous upright 20–25 ft, deep burgundy leaves darker than ‘Bloodgood’, deep crimson fall.