Japanese Maple Trees: Planting And Care of This Landscaping Beauty

With its colourful foliage enhancing the scenic beauty, the Japanese maple trees, in every sense, are the perfect landscape upgrade your space needs. 

Palm-like leaves are a typical garden staple for any preferred layout.  

Quite honestly, with so many cultivars and colours that can fit any structure and taste, this deciduous tree has been a gardening retreat that feels like a fulfilling investment and something a gardener enjoys for multiple decades. 

If you want to grow your first-ever tree and turn heads, come along and explore this immersive guide about the Japanese maple trees. 

What is a Japanese Maple Tree? A Perennial Deciduous Beauty 

Part of the Sapindaceae family, the Japanese Maple is a deciduous tree like the Cypress tree, which is native to East Asia, that grows up to 30 feet tall and is used for ornamental and landscaping purposes, especially as a bonsai tree. 

Interestingly, Dr Carl Peter Thunberg, a Swedish Botanist named the species Palmhand due to the leaves’ resemblance to a human hand. This perennial beauty thrives in moderately cold temperatures, can live up to 100 years or more and changes colour from red, yellow to green with changing seasons. 

Grown in various shapes and sizes, this tree can ideally fit all sorts of landscaping and garden styles and is pretty easy to grow as well. 

However, before diving into that, take a look at the taxonomy of the Japanese Maple trees: 

Botanical name	Acer palmatum
Kingdom	Plantae
Division	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Sapindales
Family	Sapindaceae
Genus	Acer L.
Species	Acer palmatum Thunb.

What are the Different Types of Japanese Maple Varieties?

With over 1,000 types of Japanese maple trees, all the cultivars are differentiated on the basis of their growth habit and leaf colour, similar to the types of lettuce.

Here is a list of the different types of Japanese maple trees grown popular around the world: 

Image	Name and Description
	Bloodgood  Botanical name: Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood.’  Group: Red Japanese Maple Tree Leaf colour: Deep purple/ Magenta  Size: Up to 20 feet tall  Growth habit: Upright
	Osakazuki  Botanical name: Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki.’  Group: Green Japanese maple  Leaf colour: Green  Size: 15-25 feet  Growth habit: Upright
	Crimson Queen  Botanical name: Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Crimson Queen.’ Group: Weeping Japanese Maple  Leaf colour: Burgundy  Size: 10-12 feet  Growth habit: Weeping
	Red Dragon  Botanical name: Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Red Dragon.’ Group: Red Japanese maple  Leaf colour: Burgundy  Size: 10-12 feet  Growth habit: Mounded
	Tamukeyama  Botanical name: Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Tamaukeyama.’ Group: Red Japanese  maple  Leaf colour: Red/ Dark purple  Size: 10-12 feet  Growth habit: Mounded
	Green Cascade  Botanical name: Acer japonicum ‘Green Cascade’  Group: Japanese Green Maple  Leaf colour: Bright green  Size: 6-10 feet  Growth habit: Mounded

Did you know? 

Not just an autumn garden beauty, the Japanese maple leaves are also fried and served as a delicacy in Japan. 

What are the Ideal Growing Conditions for a Japanese Maple tree? 

The best time to plant the Japanese maple tree is early spring, and always select a shaded area as they require filtered sunlight, similar to the Kalanchoe plant. 

As per Yahoo, the Japanese maple is the perfect plant for beginners, and if you are one, take a look at the growing requirements for the japense maple:  

Planting time	Early spring
Soil type	Sandy loam, well-draining and slightly acidic soil
Sunlight	4-6 hours of morning sun and protection from the afternoon sun
Water	Thrice a week during the growing stage
Fertiliser	Rare requirement, but an organic fertilizer with a 4-3-4 NPK ratio would work perfectly.

Can I Grow a Japanese Maple Tree at Home?

Yes, growing the Japanese maple trees, whether in containers or in the soil directly, is possible without the need for large and expensive equipment.  

Always remember the best way this deciduous tree can be grown is through transplants and not seeds. Here is my tried and tested planting guide that never disappoints: 

1. Purchase the preferred cultivar transplant and research the sunlight requirements to avoid future damage. 

2. Dig a hole twice as large as the rootball of the transplant but only about ⅔ as deep. 

3. Carefully place the tree in the hole and fill it back with the soil, ensuring the rootball is not too deep in the soil, as that can suffocate the roots. 

4. Water the Japanese maple plant 2-3 three times per week during the growing stage. 

5. Feed the plant once with an organic fertilizer in early spring in the second year when the leaves start to emerge. 

Also read: How Do Pineapples Grow: Planting, Care, and More About this Tropical Treasure.

How to Care for Weeping Japanese Maple? 

The Japanese maple trees grow at a rate of 1 foot per year and hence, do not require regular maintenance. 

For the best Japanese maple care, make sure all the growing requirements are met perfectly, along with the points discussed below: 

Care Step	Image	Importance
Sunlight		Perfect to grow in cool climates, the Japanese maple tree must receive 6 hours of morning sun.  Also, protect it from harsh afternoon sun, which can lead to browning of leaves.
Watering		Water the plant 2-3 times per week and do not leave the soil dry for too long.  The Japanese maple tree is drought-tolerant once established, but they require constant moisture as they have shallow root system like the Christmas cactus.
Pruning		Pruning the Japanese maple tree is best done in December.  Focus on removing the dead leaves to maintain health and proper shape.
Staking		Staking is mainly done for the Weeping japanese maple varieties.  Place a wooden stake at the centre of the plant and tie the main stem to it.  Do not tie it too tightly and leave some room for movement.

Staking refers to supporting a cascading variety, the Weeping Japanese acer in this case, to grow upright using a wooden stake or bamboo. 

Pest Infestations and Solutions for the  Japanese Maple Tree

Although really low-maintenance, many pests can pose a threat to this perennial tree. 

Take a look at the different pests that can harm the Japanese maple tree, with the advised solutions: 

Pest	Image	Issue and Solution
Japanese Maple Scale		It causes the branches to die back and stunt the plant’s growth.  Treat it with an insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Aphids		Aphids are small green insects that feed on the leaves of the tree and can lead to curling or yellowing of leaves.  Prune the part affected by the aphids.
Japanese Beetles		Although not causing any severe damage, the Japanese beetles can cause browning of foliage.  They can be hand-picked and removed easily.

Research and Findings About the Japanese Maple Trees

The Japanese maple has been a part of medical research for its antioxidant effects for a long time, and apart from the ecological benefits of planting it, I came across some medical ones as well. 

Hence, the following research paper discusses the medical potential of the Japanese maple leaves: 

Research summary box  Study year: 2022  Aim: To assess the antioxidant properties of the different coloured leaves of the Japanese maple. Sample type: Leaf extracts of the red, green and yellow varieties of the Japanese maple Key findings: Analyses of the antioxidant properties using four methods: Inhibition of lipid oxidation DPPH Scavenging Ferric-Ion reducing antioxidant power Ion- chelating abilities The phenolic and flavonoid content was much higher in the red leaves than in the others.  In addition, the metabolites of these extracts were assessed using chromatography, and the results varied for different colours.  To conclude the research, it was established that the red maple leaf extracts can be a potential source for antioxidants in pharmaceuticals.  Source: National Centre of Biotechnology Research

Fun Fact 

According to the ASPCA, the Japanese maple tree is non-toxic for cats and dogs but can be dangerous for horses. 

Common User Concerns and Solutions About the Japanese Maple Trees

Growing a japense maple can be a test of patience and leave you with questions that seem to have no answer. 

While scrolling through Reddit, I encountered various gardening queries about this tree that every gardener has. 

Here is a curated list of the most common queries with simple answers: 

1. Is something wrong with my Japanese Maple? 

   

   • The Japanese maple tree in the picture is likely stressed due to environmental factors like sunlight or water.
   • Although it can be normal, I would suggest adding a layer of mulch to retain moisture, but keep it away from the trunk to avoid root rot. 
   • Also, avoid fertilizing and pruning as that can shock the plant. 
   • Make sure the tree is watered consistently, and the top 2 inches of the soil are not dry. 
2. Is more Japanese maple too close to the house? 

   

   • No, the placement of the Japanese maple is perfect, as it has a shallow root system and would not cause any harm. 
   • I would advise pruning the tree a little bit for a better structure; other than that, no changes are required.
   • Just make sure it is not too close to the foundation and the pathway, as that can cause safety concerns. 
3. How would you proceed with this weeping Japanese maple? 

   

   • The placement of this weeping Japanese maple is incorrect and too close to the pathway. 
   • As it is a weeping variety, it can cause destruction and damage to the people walking by and can also be harmful for the plant itself. 
   • My suggestion would be to move the plant to a better location without any barriers. 

Concluding Remarks 

The Japanese maple tree was the first tree I ever planted. If I am being honest, it was way more rewarding than I ever thought it would be. 

Yes, it takes a little while to get the desired result, but the wait is always worth it. 

Although planting and care are relatively easy, I have seen young gardeners struggle with maintaining the Japanese maple, and my one piece of advice would be, ‘less is more’. Hence, do not go overboard with any care tips, especially fertilizers, and you will not have a complaint ever.  

Happy planting! 

FAQs 

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