What Japanese maple is best for shade?

Category: home and garden landscaping
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Maples with amazing spring color or variegation are great Japanese maples for the shade. The shade will often increase the length of the display of spring color or brighten the variegation.



In respect to this, how do you shade Japanese maple?

Such filtered or dappled shade is ideal for Japanese maples. TIP 1 In southern states, Japanese maples with red leaves prefer late afternoon and evening dappled shade, although four to six hours of direct morning sunlight is beneficial to maintain the red pigment in the leaves.

Additionally, do Acers prefer sun or shade? They need a sheltered position in part shade – avoid full sun and wind, which will dry our and scorch the leaves. They also need a little breathing space around them as they don't like close competition from other plant. If your soil doesn't suit Japanese acers, they are easy to grow in containers too.

In this manner, how much sunlight do Japanese maples need?

Dappled or Afternoon Shade - A mature Japanese Maple thrives in full sun everywhere but the southernmost portions of its hardiness range, but is also happy with a bit more shade. It does need some sun for best foliage color, but the amount you give it can vary greatly.

Which Japanese maple is the reddest?

OSAKAZUKI – The Reddest Japanese Maple that Exists The absolute best Japanese Maple for the most brilliant red fall color possible is 'Osakazuki'. The leaves are dark green from spring to early autumn.

38 Related Question Answers Found

Are coffee grounds good for Japanese maple?

Soil and water are the two most important factors for maintaining healthy Japanese maples. So maintain a humus-rich soil by applying coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are free at Starbucks. For a 4-foot-tall Japanese maple, I recommend applying 4 pounds of coffee grounds per tree per season.

Can you plant Japanese maple close to House?

Dwarf or weeping Japanese maples grow slowly and typically don't mature wider than 10 feet. Plant such smaller-maturing cultivars no closer than 6 feet from a house's foundation, sidewalk or driveway. Larger, upright-growing Japanese maple cultivars must not be planted as close.

How fast does Japanese maple grow?

Japanese maples generally grow at a rate of 12 to 24 inches per season. An average height is 10 to 15 feet in 15 years of growth, with much of their growth coming in earlier years.

How much water do Japanese maples need?

Water every 2-3 days for the first month. After that, a good watering once a week should be sufficient, but monitor it often as windy days can dry out soil quickly. If the tree is fall planted, water once a week when no rain or snow cover is provided. Tip 2 Always provide a layer of mulch around Japanese maple trees.

How much room does a Japanese maple need?


Allow enough space for your Japanese maple tree: Be sure to consider the space available, both height and width of the planting location when choosing a tree. Most standard palmatum type varieties grow 15-20 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide.

What is the smallest Japanese maple?

Dwarf Japanese Maple
Dwarf Japanese maples are slow-growing, compact trees that grow to about 3 to 8 feet in height, depending on the cultivar. They tend to have small leaves, short internodes and profuse branching.

How long do Japanese maples live?

Japanese Maple Tree Facts
Drought is moderately tolerated but boggy soil is really bad for these trees. In Japan, these trees can grow to 50' or more. Japanese maples typically grow one foot per year for the first 50 years. They can live to be over one hundred years old.

Why are branches dying on my Japanese maple?

Japanese maples can drop leaves during the growing season when stressed due to over- or under-watering, too much fertilizer or extreme heat. These branches are usually not dead and leaves grow back when conditions improve.

What is the best fertilizer for Japanese maple trees?


A general guideline to use for mature Japanese maple trees is 1/10 pound of nitrogen for every 1 inch of tree trunk diameter measured at 4 1/2 feet from the ground. If you fertilize other plants in the Japanese maple trees' area at the same time, use the guideline of 1/10 pound of nitrogen per 100 square feet.

What can I plant near a Japanese maple?

Great companion plants are those sharing the same cultural requirements. Among the acid-loving plants are Rhoddendrons, Azaleas, Kalmia latifola (Mountain Laurel) and dwarf conifers. Hellebores (Helleborus) are great Japanese Maple partners since they share the same growing conditions.

How do you protect a Japanese maple in the winter?

Winter Protection for Japanese Maples
Potted plant roots freeze much faster than plants in the ground. Applying a thick layer of mulch – up to 4 inches – over the root area of the tree protects the roots from winter damage. Watering well before winter freeze is also a good way to help the tree survive the cold.

How much is my Japanese maple worth?

A mature Japanese maple, for example, which could be small enough to be transplanted, can be worth $15,000.

How tall does a Crimson Queen Japanese maple get?

Crimson Queen Japanese maple trees are commonly used for landscaping purposes, not only because of the beautiful leaves, but also because it's smaller than most maples. The typical tree is about 10 feet tall, compared to other types of maples that can be up to 100 feet.

How do you care for a Japanese maple tree?


Quick tips…
  1. Keep plants moist and in the shade until planting.
  2. Soil preparation with organic matter is important, especially if the soil is heavy clay.
  3. Mulch with 6 inches after planting to reduce the need for frequent watering and protection of their shallow roots.
  4. Keep pruning of newly planted trees to a minimum.

Why is my red Acer turning green?

'Red Dragon' Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. When a Japanese maple's foliage should always be red but green leaf color predominates, it's often due to the rootstock taking over the tree's growth.

When should I fertilize my Japanese maple tree?

Tip 3 I only recommend using liquid type fertilizer like Miracle-Gro® on Japanese maples during the first summer, and only to help establish the tree. Once you see good growth you can stop liquid feeding. IMPORTANT; Do not liquid feed in late fall or early spring.