The Japanese Maple was first shown to European explorers in 1783 and introduced to the West in 1820. After nearly 80 years of obscurity, the Japanese Maple became popular and began to spread across the world. Growing wild within, or on the edge of, mixed broad-leaved woodlands, today there are hundreds of cultivars of Japanese Maple used for a variety of landscape purposes from foundation to specimen planting across the world. With grey-brown, smooth bark and 5 to 9 lobed leaves, Japanese Maples have excellent red and gold fall color and are extremely varied in their habit and size across various cultivars. Over the years, many horticulturalists have attempted to split the hundreds of Japanese Maple cultivars into distinct groups. For this website, we have listed the seven groups defined by J.D. Vertrees. These seven groups are defined mainly by the division of their leaf lobes or, in the case of the dwarf group, the ultimate height of the cultivar.

Amoenum Group - These small growing trees have seven to nine leaf lobes that are shallowly to moderately divided-up to two-thirds of the way to the leaf base. Leaf lobes are wide and simply serrate.

Dissectum Group - Leaf lobes very deeply divided and deeply dissected into sublobes. All the members of this group originate from the species Acer matsumurae with which they share their deeply divided leaves, all the way to the base of the leaf. The lobes are strong doubly serrate and the vast majority of cultivars in this group have a weeping habit. They are generally rounded shrubs or gnarled trees.

Dwarf Group - Cultivars whose mature height does not usually exceed 6 feet. These trees are generally most recommended for bonsai training.

Linearilobum Group - This group of slow growing shrubs has not been found in the wild. Leaf lobes are narrow, strap-like, divided to the leaf base. The first flush in spring sometimes shows wider lobes, but the mature leaves show the true characteristic of this group.

Matsumurae Group - Leaf lobes very deeply divided-more than three-quarters of the way to the leaf base. Leaves can be serrate, but not as strongly doubly serrate and without the weeping mushroom habit of the Dissectum Group.

Palmatum Group - Leaf lobes moderately to deeply divided-two-thirds to three-quarters of the way to the leaf base. Many of the lovely Japanese Maples found in large gardens and arboreta fall into this group.

Other Group - Cultivars that cannot be placed in any of the above groups.

Encyclopedic Entry

According to Michael A. Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants ...

• Popular Amoenum Varieties:

  Aocha nishiki, Autumn Glory, Corallinum, Golden Pond, Hōgyoku, Ichigyōji, Kara ori nishiki, Kogane sakae, Lutescens, Matsuyoi, Novum, Ōmato, Ōsakazuki, Oshio beni, Rubrum, Samidare, Saoshika, Satsuki beni, Shigitatsu sawa, Taimin, Taimin nishiki, Tana, Tatsuta, Tsukushi gata, Tsuman beni, Tsuma gaki, Umegae, Utsu semi, Variegatum, Yezo nishiki

• Popular Linearilobum Varieties:

  Ao shime-no-uchi shidare, Atrolineare, Beni ōtake, Beni ubi gohon, Chirimen nishiki, Curtis Strapleaf, Kinshi, Koto-no-ito, Purple Mask, Red Pygmy, Red Spider, Shinobuga oka, Villa Taranto, Willow Leaf

• Popular Dissectum Varieties:

  Beni kumo-no-su, Beni shidare, Brocade, Crimson Queen, Dissectum Nigrum, Ellen, Emerald Lace, Felice, Feligree, Flavescens, Garnet, Germaine's Gyration, Goshiki shidare, Green Globe, Green Lace, Green Mist, Inaba shidare, Irish Lace, Kiri nishiki, Lemon Lime Lace, Lionheart, Octopus, Orangeola, Ornatum, Palmatifidum, Pendulum Julian, Pink Filigree, Red Autumn Lace, Red Dragon, Red Filigree Lace, Rubrifolium, Seiryū, Sekimori, Shōjō shidare, Spring Delight, Stella Rossa, Sunset, Tamuke yama, Toyama, Toyama nishiki, Vic Pink, Viridis, Waterfall

• Popular Dwarf Varieties:

  Akita yatsubusa, Aoba jo, Aratama, Baby Lace, Beni hime, Beni hoshi, Berry Dwarf, Brandt's Dwarf, Caperci Dwarf, Coonara Pygmy, Coral Pink, Elizabeth, Garyū, Geisha, Globosum, Goshiki kotohime, Groundcover, Hanami nishiki, Hoshi kuzu, Hupp's Dwarf, Iso chidori, Issai nishiki, Kamagata, Kandy Kitchen, Kashima, Kiyohime, Kotohime, Koto ito komachi, Koto maru, Kurui jishi, Mapi-no-machi hime, Mikawa yatsubusa, Murasaki hime, Murasaki kiyohime, Ōjishi, Oto hime, Pixie, Red Elf, Ryūzu, Seigen, Sharp's Pygmy, Shidava Gold, Shishi yatsubusa, Shishio hime, Skeeter's Broom, Tama hime, Tsukomo, V. Corbin, Wilson's Pink Dwarf, Yatsubusa, Yuri hime

• Popular Matsumurae Varieties:

  Akegarasu, Ariadne, Aureo-variegatum, Autumn Red, Azuma murasaki, Beni fushigi, Beni kagami, Beni komachi, Beni shi en, Burgundy Lace, Butterfly, Chitose yama, Elegans, Fior d'Arancio, Green Trompenburg, Hama otome, Hessei, Iijima sunago, Inazuma, Kasagi yama, Kihachijō, Kinran, Ko murasaki, Kurabu yama, Masu kagami, Matsukaze, Miyagino, Mure hibari, Musashino, Nicholsonii, Nomura nishiki, Nuresagi, Ōgon sarasa, Omure yama, Oregon Sunset, Ōshū shidare, Rugose, Sazanami, Semi-no-hane, Sherwood Flame, Shigure bato, Shigure zome, Shinobuga oka, Shinonome, Shiraname, Shōjō, Shōjō nomura, Sumi nagashi, Taki-no-gawa, Tanabata, Trompenburg, Tsuri nishiki, Vandermoss Red, Wabito, Wakehurst Pink, Winter Flame, Wou nishiki, Yasemin, Yūbae

• Popular Palmatum Varieties:

  Aka kawa hime, Akane, Aka shigitatsu sawa, Amagi shigure, Ao kanzashi, Aoyagi, Arakawa, Ariake nomura, Asahi zuru, Atropurpureum, Aureum, Attraction, Autumn Flame, Beni kawa, Beni maiko, Beni shichihenge, Beni tsukasa, Beni yatsubusa, Bloodgood, Boskoop Glory, Chikumano, Chishio, Chishio Improved, Deshōjō, Eddisbury, Emperor One, Ever Autumn, Fireglow, Fjellheim, Hanazono nishiki, Harusame, Heptalobum Rubrum, Herbstfeuer, Hikasa yama, Hiūga yama, Ibo nishiki, Italy Red, Japanese Sunrise, Jirō shidare, Kagerō, Kagiri nishiki, Karasu gawa, Kasen nishiki, Katsura, Kingsville Red, Kingsville Variegated, Kogane nishiki, Komon nishiki, Korean Gem, Koshibori nishiki, Maiko, Mai mori, Mama, Marakumo, Margaret Bee, Masu murasaki, Matsugae, Mini Mondo, Mirte, Mizuho beni, Mizu kuguri, Mon zukushi, Moonfire, Muragumo, Muro gawa, Nanase gawa, Naruo nishiki, Nigrum, Nishiki gasane, Nishiki gawa, Nishiki momiji, Nomura, Ōgi nagashi, Ogino nagare, Ō kagami, Okukuji nishiki, Okushimo, Orange Dream, Oridono Nishiki, Ōshū beni, Otome zakura, Peaches & Cream, Purpureum, Red Flash, Rufescens, Ryūmon nishiki, Sagara nishiki, Sango Kaku, Sanguineum, Saotome, Seigai, Sekka yatsubusa, Shaina, Shichihenge, Shigarami, Shikage ori nishiki, Shin deshōjō, Shishigashira, Shōjō-no-mai, Takao, Tama nishiki, Tamaori nishiki, Tennyo-no-hoshi, The Bishop, Tobiosho, Tsuchigumo, Tsukuba ne, Twisted Spider, Ueno homare, Ueno yama, Ukigumo, Versicolor, Volubile, Waka momiji, Whitney Red, Yūgure

• Other Popular Varieties:

  Hagoromo, Hazeroino, Koshimino, Momenshide

• Type:

  Deciduous Ornamental Tree

• Family-Genus-Species:

  Sapindaceae Acer palmatum

• Sun Requirements:

  Partial Shade (Ideally during the hottest parts of the day!)

• Leaves:

  Leaves are opposite, simple, 2 to 5 inches long, deeply 5 to 7 to 9 lobed, lobes being lance-ovate to lance-oblong in shape, acuminate, subcordate doubly serrate; color varies depending on cultivar, but species is green in summer, becoming yellow, bronze, purple or red in the fall; many of the var. atropurpureum types turn a magnificant red in fall; leaves hold late and are often present into November.

• Landscape Value:

  Probably one of the most flexible maple species as far as landscape uses; magnificent specimen, accent plant, shrub border, grouping, bonsai; definitely lends an artistic and aristocratic touch; considering the tremendous heat in the south I am amazed at the number of choice specimens; even in full sun the plant does reasonable well; the purple leaf forms appear to lose the pronounced color earlier in the growing season.

• Hardiness:

  Zone 5 to 8. For an idea of your plant zone please visit the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

• Soil Preference:

  Transplanted balled and burlapped or as a container plant into moist, high organic matter, well-drained soil. Tolerant of most soil types.

• Size:

  15 to 25 feet in height, spread equal to or greater than height; great variation in this species due to large number of cultivars which are common in commerce; many of the dissectum types only reach 6 to 8 feet and become quite mound-like in shape; the species can reach 40 to 50 feet in the wild state; magnificent specimens along the east coast from Boston to Washington that approach 40 to 50 feet.

• Habit:

  Species tends towards a rounded to broad-rounded character, often the branches assume a layered effect similar to Flowering Dogwood; the plant can be grown as a single-stemmed small tree or large multi-stemmed shrub; perhaps the greatest ornamental attributes are exposed in the latter situation.

• Flowers:

  Small, red to purple, May to June, borne in stalked umbels (possibly corymbs), quite attractive on close inspection.

• Fertilization:

  Fertilize an area three times the canopy spread of the tree 1 to 2 times a year with a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Only fertilize an established tree.

• Planting Instructions:

  Dig a hole three times the diameter of the root system, with a depth no deeper than the original soil line on trunk. Break up the soil to the finest consistency possible. Place plant in hole and fill, compacting the fill dirt. Water the plant heavily to seal soil around the roots and remove air pockets. Water well, and remember to water regularly until they have started to grow.

• Diseases & Insects:

  Actually surprisingly few; have had a real problem with rooted cuttings in plastic houses that leafed out early. The high humidity promoted Botrytis infection which literally killed 80 fine specimens in about 3 days.

Photo Gallery

History of Japanese Maple Cultivars

While the Japanese have long been known for their work with bonsai and beautiful flowering shrubs such as azaleas and chrysanthemums, their native maples (Acer palmatum & Acer japonicum) have become famous in landscapes around the world. Acer palmatum in particular has long been revered for its importance in Japanese heritage and culture. Thanks to its adaptability to a wide range of soil conditions and altitudes (330-4290 feet), the tree occurs naturally in various forms across the islands of Japan. Since the Acer palmatum can be found in so many different varieties, both naturally and cultivated, we can conclude that this species has a strong tendency to mutate. Over a 300 year period, the number of different cultivars created by selective cross pollination exploded. Throughout the Edo Period (1603-1867), the domestic popularity of the Japanese Maple would peak as the practice of selecting rare types of flora to display prominently in both private and public gardens was a common practice in Japanese culture. As European interaction increased during the 18th century, horticulture publications began capturing the extent of Japanese Maple cultivation. A 1710 garden catalog listed 36 different cultivated varieties of Acer palmatum. By 1733, an additional 28 names were listed. By 1882, over 200 cultivars had been published. At its peaks, there were over 250 named varieties in cultivation. Sadly, many of these cultivars have been forever lost. Between the 1930s and 1940s, the Great Depression and World War II would both take their terrible tole on Japanese Maple cultivation. Many Japanese horticulturalists who once devoted their life to the rare and beautiful plants, had to turn their sights to a more practical goal - food production and survival. Countless Japanese Maples were simply burned for firewood during this time. The most distinguished ornamental tree would not see a rise in popularity again until the 1960s when the interest for finding and developing various cultivars was rekindled. The post-World War II era has witnessed the Renaissance of the Japanese Maple. The number of cultivars today ranges in the hundreds; however, due to presence of various alternate names and misapplications, the exact number of different cultivars is unknown. As interest continues to once again rise, it is safe to assume more cultivars are on the horizon. After all, it is difficult to find a landscaping project that does not include some variety of Japanese Maple.

Spotlight Cultivars

Bloodgood

The Bloodgood cultivar is undoubtedly the most widely known and planted purple-leaf upright Japanese Maple in the United States. It is the standard by which all successive red Palmatum Group cultivars are judged. It has excellent deep red to dark purple foliage that does not fade under the harshest of conditions. Some may contend the cultivar is prone to color fade, but this is likely from the dilution of the variety by unscrupulous vendors. When pure, the variety is tough to beat. Like all cultivars in the Palmatum Group, extreme hot sun can crisp the edges of the leaves. The variety can withstand full sun, but prefers a partial shade environment - particularly in the afternoons. Leaves are typical palmatum shape and 2 to 5 inches long, turning bright, consistent crimson in the fall. The tree can reach up to 25 feet and height and was developed well before World War II. Lawrence L. Carville suggested that the Bloodgood originated as a Acer palmatum var. atropurpureum selection at the Bloodgood Nursery in Long Island, New York. Contrastly, Freek Vrugtman suggested that the cultivar had its origin in Boskoop, Netherlands at the Ebinge and Groos nursery. It was then exported to the United States where it was named and marketed into popularity.

Burgundy Lace

Ribbon-like lobes and burgundy red foliage are hallmarks of this cultivated variety. A member of the Matsumurae Group, the cultivar's leaves are deeply divided, practically separated up to the leaf base. Leaves are 3 1/2 to 4 1/2" across and 3 to 3 1/2" long and leaf lobes are sharply toothed along the entire margin. The Burgundy Lace has beautiful red, purple coloration (as the name implies), but as the season progresses to mid-summer, foliage turns bronze to greenish. The variety will burn severely in full sun. It is unclear who developed the Burgundy Lace and where exactly it originated, but expert J.D. Vertrees is confident it originated in the United States. The tree is a spreading, small tree, reaching up to 20 feet in height and developing a wide canopy when given adequate space. It can be kept quite small with judicious pruning.

Crimson Queen

Of the Dissectum Group, arguably the most widely planted Japanese Maple in the United States is the Crimson Queen. The primary feature of this cultivar is its deep, red foliage maintained throughout the spring and summer; however, as can be seen in the accompanying photo, foliage color can be inconsistently green and bronze during the hottest weeks of the summer. The variety is remarkably resistant to sunburn, even under the harshest conditions. J.D. Vertrees maintains that the cultivar originated in the United States, but does not offer specific credit or an origin timeframe. Fall foliage is typically bright scarlet, and the leaves can be described as being finely dissected up to 3 1/2" long, with the side lobes 2 to 2 1/2" long. The tree reaches 10-15 feet in height and ages into a beautiful cascading habit. Because the cultivar is so widely grown, every effort should be made to retain its purity.

Emperor One

Very few cultivars come close to the color and habit consistency of the Bloodgood Japanese Maple. The Emperor One is a member of this select few. A member of the red Palmatum Group, the variety leafs out two weeks later than other cultivars (including the Bloodgood) making the tree is less prone to late spring freeze damage. Leaves are deep purple, red turning shades of burning red in the fall. The tree stays smaller than other cultivars (10-15 feet tall), making it more versatile in landscapes. Color is consistent throughout the summer for the most part, but there have been accounts of the leaves greening in full sun environments. The tree was discovered and developed by Richard P. Wolff of Red Maple Nursery in Media, Pennsylvania around 1976. Shortly before Mr. Wolff died, the tree was gifted to several friends, making a possible patent of the tree impossible. In the years following Mr. Wolff's passing, the tree was grown by several people and finally introduced to commercial production by Don Schmidt Nursery in Boring, Oregon. According to a representative of Don Schmidt Nursery, Bill Schwartz of Bill Schwartz Nursery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania threatened to patent the tree in the period following Mr. Wolff's death leading to a proliferation of names from the other growers - Red Emperor, Imperial, Emperor I, Emperor, and (most recently) Wolff. In particular, the Wolff name became associated with a supposed trademark on the Emperor I name by Joan Abbott - a trustee of Richard Wolff's estate. All in all, a lot of drama for a beautiful tree.

Hikasa yama

The Hikasa yama (also spelled Higasa yama) cultivar is the chameleon of Japanese Maples. A variegated member of the Palmatum Group, the tree has been known by many names including Roseo-marginatum, and Cristatum Variegatum. This proliferation is due to the spectacular variation in growth, color, shape, and variegation at different times of the year. Starting in early spring, leaflets emerge from elongated brilliant crimson bud sheaths. Leaflets are initially pale cream, tightly curled, and popcorn-like in appearance. Unfurled leaves have cream colored variegated lobe margins with light-green vein striping toward the leaf base. During the early spring (first month or so) variegated cream margins have strong pink overtones. These pink overtones fade into summer, and in the fall, cream margins take on orange, dark yellow, and occasionally red tones. Growth on older wood can be described as twiggy and tightly clustered, making the tree popular among bonsai enthusiasts. New growth under good growth conditions is alarming. Long shoots of new growth jettison straight up (up to 4 feet long), and leaves on this new growth are non-typical of the cultivar - dark green with little to no variegation. These new shoots revert to the cultivar's typical traits by their second year. The cultivar is old. It is found on trade lists in Japan as early as the 1880s, but no definitive origin point is known. The name Hikasa yama refers to Mt. Hikasa (also spelled Kasa) - an extinct volcano in Hagi, Japan.

Oridono nishiki

One of the best variegated Japanese Maple cultivars is the Oridono nishiki (also spelled Orido Nishiki). A member of the Palmatum Group, the Japanese name of this cultivar is broken into three characters - ori, dono, and nishiki. The translation of these characters mean "rich-colored fabric of the master." The phrase is well-deserved. The tree variegations are extremely diverse. New spring foliage is bright pink, white, cream, or a combination thereof. Variegated areas on each leaf vary wildly. Sometimes new leaves are entirely white or pink. Strongly variegated leaf portions will be curved or crescent-shaped. Overtones of pink are the most prominent color throughout the spring. Even bark on new branches and stems show pink striping. Once summer arrives, the variegation continues, but the pink overtones all but disappear. Fall color is a multitude of red, pink and maroon. Oridono nishiki is a sturdy and vigorous grower that becomes an upright, round-topped tree of 20-25 feet in height in 15-20 years. Its exact origin is unknown, but it is an old cultivar - appearing in Yokohama Nursery Company catalogs as far back as the 1890s.

Red Dragon

Introduced in 1991 by Graham Roberts of Duncan & Davies Nursery in New Zealand, the Red Dragon is one of few Japanese Maples in the Dissectum Group that compares in color and quality to the Crimson Queen cultivar. In many ways the Red Dragon is to the Crimson Queen what the Emperor One is to the Bloodgood. While the Crimson Queen is widely known and planted across America, the Red Dragon arguably holds its color better. The growth habit is smaller than the Crimson Queen, becoming a compact, well-branched cascading mound approximately 10 feet in height. Leaves emerge bright scarlet in spring, becoming dark red-purple as they mature and finally a rich scarlet during the fall. The leaves are deeply cut up to the leaf base, seven-lobed and slightly wider than long. It is recommended that the tree be planted in landscapes where it can receive protection from especially cold wind and summer droughts. Because of its habit, size, and color, the tree makes an excellent rock garden, container, or bonsai plant. According to J.D. Vertrees, "Although [the] Crimson Queen is probably the standard by which new red dissectum cultivars are judged, [the] Red Dragon may well prove to be the standard in the future."

Sango Kaku

Perhaps better known as the Senkaki or as the Coral Bark Japanese Maple, the Sango Kaku is a popular cultivar in landscapes the world over for its winter aesthetic value. Its name means "coral tower," referring to the brilliant coral pink color of its bark throughout the year. During the winter and on newer growth (< 2 years of age), this color becomes almost fluorescent, akin to neon lighting. The effect is best observed after snowfall. The cultivar is a member of the Palmatum Group with leaves that are of typical size and appearance. Foliage color is a bright light green. Leaf edges on new growth have a strong reddish tinge which fades as the leaves mature. The reddish tones are in full affect during spring when the entire tree is leafing out. Fall foliage is a consistent yellow-golden similar in appearance to the Maidenhair (Ginkgo) Tree. An upright-growing tree with a spreading branches at maturity, the tree makes a fine specimen or accent tree in landscapes. The growth rate can be considered fast for the first few years. Like the Oridino Nishiki discussed above, the exact origin of the Sango Kaku is unknown. It began appearing in Yokohama Nursery Company catalogs as far back as the 1880s.

Where can I purchase Japanese Maples?

Our Japanese Maples are grown from cuttings. We offer Bloodgood Japanese Maples in several sizes listed below that include shipping. For further information regarding planting procedure and technique, please visit boydnursery.net/planting/. We ship via Priority Mail from zip-code 37378 and DO NOT ship plants west of the Rocky Mountains.

We also provide a limited supply of the following Japanese maple cultivars in balled and burlapped quantities: Bloodgood, Burgundy Lace, Emperor One, Orido nishiki, Sango Kaku, Suminagashi, and Shindeshojo. Please call with the size and quantity that you are interested in, and we will provide you with a quote. Wholesale orders are shipped dependent upon the customer's needs. Size and quantity availability can be found at boydnursery.net.

This product can only be shipped during the Winter and Early Spring!

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