12 Japanese Maple Varieties: Where to Grow Japanese Maples

The Japanese maple tree (Acer Palmatum) is a small deciduous tree that grows as a single-stemmed tree or a multiple-stemmed shrub. Native to Japan, the Japanese maple grows a broad crown with hand-sized maple leaves that have five or seven points. The Japanese maple is known for its fall colors, when the leaf color can turn from golden, to orange, to red, to purple.

Japanese maple blooms in spring, and by summer the foliage is bright with green leaves. They thrive in USDA hardiness zones five through nine and do best in the morning sun with some afternoon shade. These trees can be particular when they are establishing themselves but are low-maintenance and hardy once their roots are established.

Japanese maple trees can be broken into several broad categories based on the following characteristics.

1. 1. Leaf shape: There are two main Japanese maple leaf shapes: palm-shaped and lacy. Laceleaf varieties (also known as dissected) have deeply lobed leaves and are often thinner and more delicate than palm-shaped leaves.
2. 2. Growth habit: Japanese maples have a diverse range of growth habits, including mounding, upright, cascading, and weeping.
3. 3. Foliage color: Due to their striking range of colors, Japanese maple trees are often planted as statement pieces in the garden. Their leaf color comes in different hues of red, green, yellow, purple, pink, and orange. Variegated varieties blend a combination of colors for a show-stopping display.
4. 4. Size: Japanese maple trees come in a wide range of sizes, from about two feet to twenty-five feet tall.

Explore some popular varieties of Japanese maple trees.

1. 1. ‘Bloodgood’: Among the most popular cultivars of Japanese maples, the Acer palmatum atropurpureum 'Bloodgood' tree has reddish-purple leaves that turn green in full sun. In the fall, its foliage turns crimson red. These maples reach a mature height of fifteen to twenty feet when planted in partial-shade or full sun in hardiness zones five to eight.
2. 2. ‘Red Dragon’: Acer palmatum dissectum 'Red Dragon' is a small tree that is great for growing in containers or small spaces. The purple-red foliage turns crimson in the fall. It reaches a mature height of six to eight feet when planted in partial shade or full sun in hardiness zones five to eight.
3. 3. ‘Crimson Queen’: Acer palmatum dissectum 'Crimson Queen' is a lace-leaf variety with a weeping habit. These maples reach a mature height of eight to ten feet tall. The dark red leaves turn maroon come autumn. Plant these trees in partial shade to full sun in hardiness zones five to eight.
4. 4. Full moon: Also known as golden full moon or autumn moon maples, full moon maples (Acer japonicum) come in a wide array of foliage colors ranging from bright green, golden yellow, orange-red, and chartreuse. These maples have a deciduous shrub growth habit but can be trained to grow as small trees. They can reach a mature height of sixteen to twenty feet when planted in partial shade to full sun in hardiness zones five to seven.
5. 5. ‘Waterfall’: Acer palmatum ‘Waterfall’ has a stunning weeping habit. Its green foliage turns to a cascade of bright orange, yellow, and red in the fall. It has an extreme mounding habit and can take on the appearance of a shrub. It reaches a mature height of six to ten feet in hardiness zones five to nine.
6. 6. ‘Sharp's Pygmy’: Acer palmatum 'Sharp's Pygmy' is a dwarf Japanese maple variety that is a favorite among bonsai artists. A deciduous shrub, ‘Sharp's Pygmy’ reaches a mature height of only four feet. It grows dense foliage and is a rather slow grower. In warmer climates, take special care to protect this variety from the afternoon sun to avoid leaf scorch. This dwarf tree can be grown in hardiness zones five to eight.
7. 7. ‘Shaina’: Acer palmatum 'Shaina' is a dwarf tree variety with foliage that becomes dense with maturity. ‘Shaina’ Japanese maples have stunning, dark red foliage that ages to a deep maroon. They reach a mature height of eight feet and can be planted in hardiness zones five to eight.
8. 8. ‘Seiryu’: Acer palmatum 'Seiryu' is a lace-leaf variety has thin, dissected leaves. Its foliage is a light green color with pink tips that turn a dark brown-red color in the fall. The ‘Seiryu’ Japanese maple has an upright growth habit. Mature trees reach ten to fifteen feet tall and can be grown in USDA zones five through nine.
9. 9. ‘Inaba Shidare’: Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Inaba Shidare' is compact shrub variety of Japanese maple that is great for planting in small spaces. Its lower limbs have a weeping habit, giving it a stunning visual appeal. Its foliage color changes regularly throughout the growing season. It's especially cold-hardy and is great for growing in areas that receive cold winters. The ‘Inaba Shidare’ Japanese maple will reach a mature height of ten feet and thrives in hardiness zones five to nine.
10. 10. ‘Coral Bark’: Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku', also known as the ‘Coral Bark’ Japanese maple, gets its name from its red bark. The yellow-green foliage turns golden yellow in the fall. A full-size variety, ‘Coral Bark’ Japanese maples reach a mature height of twenty-five feet tall. It should be planted in partial shade to full sun in hardiness zones five to eight.
11. 11. ‘Osakazuki’: Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki' is a full-size maple variety that can reach a height of up to twenty-five feet. It has bright green leaves that turn crimson red in late summer and early fall. Plant the ‘Osakazuki’ Japanese maple in hardiness zones five to eight.
12. 12. ‘Tamukeyama’: Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Tamukeyama' is a dwarf tree known for its crimson red bark. Its leaves are purple-red throughout the summer, bursting into bright red in the fall. It has a mounding growth habit and does well when planted in containers. The ‘Tamukeyama’ Japanese maple thrives in hardiness zones five to eight.

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