How to grow Japanese maple

Acer palmatum

A slow-growing deciduous shrub or small tree from Japan and Korea, grown for its lobed leaves and bright autumn colour; the small reddish-purple flowers in April are not showy. It usually reaches 3–7.5 m and is hardy, but young leaves can be damaged by late spring frosts.

Japanese maple — Photo: Kurt Stüber [1], CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Quick facts

Type	Shrub
Family	Sapindaceae
Light	Partial shade
Frost	tolerates light frost
Where it grows	Open ground

When to plant

Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.

Care

Open ground

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	—	organic, at the start of the stage
Flowering	every 7 days	—	—
Winter rest	—	—	—

Growing notes

Light

A cool, lightly shaded spot sheltered from strong wind; afternoon sun can scorch the leaves, while red-leaved forms need some sun for good colour.

Soil

Slightly acidic, humus-rich, well-drained soil kept evenly moist; it will not survive waterlogging and may turn chlorotic on alkaline soil.

Care

Plant between October and March with no more than 2.5 cm of soil over the main roots. Water as needed in dry spells in the first year, up to once a week in hot, dry weather. Trees in the ground need no feeding beyond a spring mulch, which also keeps the roots cool. Prune little, only in late autumn to mid-winter, because spring and summer cuts bleed.

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.