Description
Japanese Red maple is a relatively slow growing tree at about a foot a year. The average size of a mature Japanese Maple is between 15-25′. Some of the lace leaf varieties of Japanese Maple only grow to 7′. Protect Japanese Maple from drying winds and direct sun and provide well-drained, acid soil with plenty of organic matter. Japanese Maple leaves often scorch in hot summer weather in hardiness zones 7b and 8, shade or irrigated during dry weather. More direct sun can be tolerated in the northern part of the range. In the far north plant Japanese Maples on the South-east side of a structure to protect it from the cold winds. Good drainage is important, so don’t allow water to stand around the roots. Japanese Red Maple grow fine on clay soils as long as water does not accumulate in the soil. It does not tolerate salt.
Responds well to several inches of mulch placed beneath the canopy but remove mulch before winter to keep the mice away. Be sure to clear all the grass away from beneath the branches to reduce competition. Train the trunks and branches on Japanese Maple so they will not touch each other. Remove some secondary branches on the trunk.
This reduces the likelihood of one splitting from the tree later when it has grown to become an important part of the landscape. Locate the tree properly, taking into account the ultimate size since the tree looks best if it is not pruned to control size. Red Japanese Maple trees also make an excellent bonsai tree.
The leaf is 2-4″, simple, 5-7 lobes, opposite, serrated and palm shaped, hence the name palmatum. The leaves are persistent and, in our greenhouse, some will hang on thru the winter. The flowers are inconspicuous, red, opening with the new leaves. Small, wide spreading winged whirlybird. The seed ripen in the fall. Twigs are slender with small red buds. There are very few diseases that affect this maple. Canker, scales and aphids are a few of the problems.
Our Japanese Red Maple trees (Acer palmatum) are a seed grown variety from the ‘Bloodgood’ cultivar. Being seed grown these maples will have some genetic variability and will produce roughly 85% red and the rest will run from red to green. The red color is caused by the pigment xanthocyanin. Japanese Red Maple is a small tree, has a layered look as a hemlock, and tends to leaf out early, and may be injured by frosts. A Japanese red Maple tree can enhance any landscape with its delightful spring flush of foliage. It can be the centerpiece of your landscape if properly located.
There are nearly 200 known cultivars of the Acer palmatum. We plan to expand our offerings into the grafted cultivars so stay tuned.
Scientific Name: Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’
Zone: 4 with protection or zones 5-7 Find Your Growing Zone
Mature Height: 15-25 ft
Mature Width: 15-20 ft
Growth Rate: 12-24″
Soil: Prefers rich, constantly wet soils. Can tolerate dryer sites and even heavy clay.
Sun Requirements: Full to Partial Sun
Fall Color: Red, turning darker and then fading.
