Japanese Maple

Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum

Japanese Maple is one of the oldest trees cultivated in the world. In Asia (Japan, Korea and China) it has been grown for gardens and landscaping for thousands of years. It is the most popular tree for bonsai making in Japanese culture next to wild Junipers. In the wild it is a scrubby tree only mature to 20'-25' tall and wide. In cultivation they can range from shrub forms to small trees. There is a lot of genetic variability in this species, that in fact thousands of cultivars exist on the market today. There are two categories these trees are placed in, either palmate cultivars or dissectum (aka. Laceleaf) cultivars. The dissectum cultivars have very open fern like leaves that are more scrubby rather than tree like. In the wild they have palmate foliage that are like pretty much all wild trees are green during the growing season, and their fall color turns to an orange to a deep burning red, but many in cultivation are bred to have deep red/purple leaves all season long. The most common Japanese Maples in landscaping have red foliage from Spring to Fall. Since Japanese Maples are not large shade trees, they have a slow growth rate. In many regions with hotter climates growth is about 6" per year on non-dwarf cultivars, and less than 6" per year on dwarf cultivars such as the dissectum cultivars. In ideal climates with cool summers non-dwarf cultivars can grow between 8"-12" per year and up to 6" or slightly more per year on Dissectum cultivars in places such as the West coast. 

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-9

Mature Size: Typically 20' tall and wide 

Many cultivars exist with vastly different growing sizes. Most that aren't dwarf do eventually reach 20' tall and wide. Japanese Maples are notorious for getting as wide as they do tall, and sometimes slightly wider than tall.

Light: Part sun - Full shade

(full sun in cooler regions)

Water: Moist

 Prefers moist well draining soils. Adaptable to some drought once established.

Soils: Prefers slightly acidic soils

Prefers pH levels below 7. Can tolerate extremely acidic soils below pH 5. In alkaline soils add soil acidifier to lower pH level. It is adaptable to slightly alkaline soils, however it may not perform well overtime.

Deciduous/Evergreen: Deciduous