Japanese Maples


	Japanese Maples

Commonly referred to as Japanese Maples, these small ornamentals are actually native to Japan, China and Korea.


		Small ornamental trees benefit from spring fertilization. Use a slow release granular fertilizer with equal parts NPK (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium). Sprinkle around the root zone according to directions in spring.

	The most common of these maples are the Acer palmatum Japanese Maples. This species alone is quite enormous with at least three subspecies, hundreds of named cultivars, and perhaps a thousand or more total cultivars that include small ornamental trees as well as shrubs. There is a good deal of variation even from parent to sibling, so if you seek a very specific tree, make sure that you are purchasing a named cultivar, and prepare to be flexible about the results. But each Japanese Maples displays such unique beauty, it would be hard to be dissatisfied. A small selection of the available varieties will give you a start. Acer palmatum Japanese Maple Zones: 5-8 Light Dappled Shade (varies by variety) Height: 15-25’ (varies by variety) Spread: 10-25’ (varies by variety) Shape: Often a low dense rounded top with spreading branches. Frequently displays a layered look. Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate (varies by variety) Soil Preference: Evenly moist well drained Moisture: Evenly moist, does not tolerate drought. Foliage: Green in summer Blooms: Small red to purple flowers, insignificant at a distance Fruit: Many produce double winged samaras Japanese Maples prefer a dappled shade in an area protected from wind. Leaf scorch will be caused by excess sun, wind or drought. Most are somewhat adaptable to sun and soil conditions. Japanese Maples can be grown as a single stem or multi stem tree, and may display a variety of crown forms from open and layered to dense and cascading. Will often become shrub like if unpruned. Fall color can be yellow, bronzed, purple or red, or a combination. Leaf color can vary quite dramatically by variety ranging from chartreuse to purple. Selections are often made based on fall leaf color and leaf appearance. Species similar to Acer palmatum include: Acer japonicum Downy Japanese Maple Acer pseudosieboldianum Korean Maple Acer sieboldianum Siebold’s Maple Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ Zones: 5B-8 Full Sun in northern zones, to Shade Height: 12-20’ Spread: 15-20’ Shape: Rounded crown, symmetrical habit is consistent in each individual plant. Growth Rate: Slow Soil Preference: Prefers slightly alkaline to acidic, will do well in clay, sand or loam. Is moderately tolerant of salt soils. Moisture: Prefers average to moist soil, moderately tolerant of drought. Does not do well in wet. Foliage: Star shaped palmate leaves with serrated edges colored purple or red. Blooms: Red spring flowers Fruit: Showy red seeds ‘Bloodgood’ is one of the more widely used Japanese Maples because of it’s red summer color, reddish bark and showy scarlet fall color. Leaves turn green red in the heat of summer in southern regions. It is a beautiful specimen tree for residential landscapes. Multiple trunks lend a lovely silhouette, especially when lit at night. Lower branches can be removed up the trunk base or left in shrub form, displaying a rounded canopy. Thin interior branches to eliminate crossed or touching branches keeping snipped as they sprout. You may also prune the crown to control size. ‘Bloodgood’ grows vigorously with strong branches. Interesting winter form, bark and persistent seeds. Planting in a raised bed will eliminate the possibility of wet soil. Can be planted year round in zones 7 and 8. Does not transplant well, but container grown and root pruned plants will do fine. Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’ Zones: 5-8 Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade, or Shade Height: 12-15’ Spread: 6-8’ Shape: Upright, Vase shaped Growth Rate: Very slow Soil Preference: Moisture: Average, moist well drained Foliage: Variegated small leaves, green with white margins in spring, maturing to bluish green with cream variegation and sometimes rose red. Blooms: Small creamy pink flowers in spring Fruit: Samaras ‘Butterfly’ is an easy to grow and dependable variegated Japanese Maple. The small fine leaves present a delicate lacy appearance. Branches are often layered or slightly weeping. Often tends toward a shrubby form, but may be pruned to maintain a tree form (removal of lower branches) and thinned to accentuate layering. In warm climates plant where it will receive morning sun but afternoon shade for best results. For more northern zones light shade will be adaquate and will do well in heavier shade. Also avoid areas exposed to winter winds in the north. Will grow well in large pots as a patio tree or near a water garden. Autumn color is a striking red purple. Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’ Zones: 5-9 Sun to Shade Height: 15-25’, perhaps as tall as 30’ Spread: 15-20’ Shape: Rounded, grows more rounded as it matures Growth Rate: Grows rapidly when young Soil Preference: Acidic well drained. Moisture: Average, drought tolerant Foliage: 5” leaves with 7 lobes are larger than the average Japanese Maple leaf, coloring can vary. Typically leaves are rich green in summer, crimson red in autumn Blooms: Showy red flowers in spring Fruit: Showy red samaras There are at least a few different forms of ‘Osakazuki’ which may display different leaf colorings in both summer and fall. This is one of those cases where you will want to select carefully if you are particular about color display. Most should display vivid red fall color. ‘Osakazuki’ is very hardy, withstanding cold winters and heavy snow, as well as hot desert temperatures. May be difficult to find, stock often runs out quickly. Acer plamatum ‘Fireglow’ Zones:5-9 Sun to Part Shade Height: 10-15’ perhaps up to 25’ Spread: 10-12’ Shape: Upright and vase shaped Growth Rate: Slow, may be only 12’ in 30 years. Grows quickly when young, perhaps up to 10” per year. Soil Preference: Moist well drained. Prefers hums rich with pH levels from mildly alkaline to strongly acidic. Moisture: Average, water regularly buyt do not overwater Foliage: Leaves are intensely red purple Blooms: None Seeds: None ‘Fireglow’ holds it’s deep wine red leaf color well through the heat of summer. Coloring may tend more green in shade. Leaves turn crimson in autumn. ‘Fireglow’ tends to be more shrub like when young, but well develop a better tree form as it matures. May require maintenance pruning for desired form. Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ Coral bark Japanese Maple Zones: 6-8 Sun to Light Shade Height: 20-25’ Spread: 15-20’ Shape: Rounded Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate Soil Preference: Will tolerate from sand to heavy clay Moisture: Moist, well drained, drought tolerant Foliage: Palmate leaves with 5-7 narrow, sharp pointed lobes. New leaves are reddish, medium green in summer Blooms: None or insignigicant Fruit: Noe Young stems display brilliant coral color in fall and winter. Foliage turns yellow gold with light red tones in autumn. Will do well in large containers. ‘Sango Kaku’ may not be as heat tolerant as some cultivars. Protect in shadier areas for southern zones. Also does not tolerate wind well. Susceptible to bacterial blight, plant where air circulation is good to help prevent the problem. Acer palmatum var dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’ Zones: 5-8 Full Sun to Part Shade, prefers lightly dappled shade Height: 8-10’ Spread: 10-12’ Shape: Mounded, cascading Growth Rate: Soil Preference: Average soil, well drained Moisture: Average Foliage: Finely cut palmate leaves have 7-9 lobes and are deeply dissected. Leave open red in spring and mature to dark purple red. Blooms: Small red flowers in spring Fruit: Samaras ‘Crimson Queen’ is a dwarf, with a mounded habit. It may be grown as a tree or multi stemmed shrub. Cascading branches form a weeping effect. It is a very attractive plant with interesting foliage and form. ‘Crimson Queen’ prefers a lightly dappled shade, the leaves may scorch in full sun in the heat of summer in southern regions. It also needs a sheltered planting site that will protect it from winds.