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Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum

Ornamental treeDeciduousFrost Hardy

The Japanese maple is a small deciduous tree or large shrub from Japan, Korea and China, grown for its palmately lobed leaves and brilliant autumn colour. It is highly variable, with thousands of cultivars ranging from dwarf mounding forms to small trees.

Overview

Height4–8 m
Crown diameter3–7 m
Root systemShallow-rooted
ShadeMedium shade
SunPartial Shade
WaterMedium
HardinessUSDA zones 5–8

Seasons

Flowering (Central Europe)Apr, May

Planting time for bare-root trees. Container trees can be planted whenever the soil is workable.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

None

Bad Companions

  • Tomato

    Tomato is a host of the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae, which also causes Verticillium wilt in maples; extension advice is to avoid planting maples on ground previously used for tomato or potato.

  • Potato

    Potato is a host of Verticillium dahliae, which persists in soil and infects maples; avoid planting maples where potatoes were grown.

  • Eggplant

    Eggplant is a listed vegetable host of Verticillium dahliae, the cause of Verticillium wilt in maples (shared soil-borne pathogen).

Only relations with a documented cause are listed.

Planting Tips

LocationSheltered from strong and drying winds, in dappled or partial shade; red- and purple-leaved cultivars need some sun for colour but should be shielded from hot afternoon sun.
SoilHumus-rich, well-drained but evenly moist, slightly acidic to neutral soil; avoids compacted, cold-wet and calcareous soils.
WateringWater regularly in dry spells during the first year; do not let container plants dry out, which may mean daily watering in hot weather. Drought causes leaf scorch.
FertilizingTrees in the ground generally need no feeding; container plants get a general-purpose feed in late spring.

Care Tip: Prune only from July to January to avoid sap bleeding; mulch in late autumn to late winter keeping mulch off the trunk, and protect young leaves from late frost with fleece.

Sources