Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
The jewel of ornamental shade trees, prized for their delicate palmate leaves and stunning seasonal color changes from spring through fall. Available in countless cultivars with varying leaf shapes, sizes, and colors, Japanese maples bring four-season interest to any landscape. Their refined branching structure and compact size make them perfect for smaller yards where every plant must earn its place.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Partial shade to dappled sun
Zones
5–8
USDA hardiness
Height
15-25 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Japanese Maple in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 shade-tree →Zone Map
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Japanese Maple · Zones 5–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: #deciduous#bronze#shrub#purple leaves#slow growing#samaras#red leaves#bonsai#yellow leaves#tsc#fall interest#understory tree#dappled shade#deer resistant#nighttime garden#copper leaves#children's garden#red fruits#playground plant#self-seeding#pollinator plant#larval host plant#deciduous tree#bird friendly#tsc-t#imperial moth#mccarthy memorial garden#landscape plant sleuths course#wildlife friendly#th-sight#woodland#cpp#HS111#illustration#HS304#fpp. Soil: High Organic Matter. Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: 'Atropurpureum', 'Ben Komachii', 'Bloodgood', 'Burgundy Lace', 'Crimson Queen', 'Garnet', 'Gwens Rose Delight', 'Higasayama', 'Jordan', 'Kagiri Nishiki', 'Kiyohime', 'Koto no ito', 'Mikawa yatsubusa', 'Mizuho Beni', 'Moonfire', 'Novum', 'Orange Dream', 'Orangeola', 'Osakazuki', 'Oto hime', 'Redleaf', 'Ryusen', 'Sango-Kaku', 'Seiryu', 'Shaina', 'Sharp’s Pygmy', 'Sherwood Flame', subsp. matsumurae, 'Trompenburg', 'Twombly Red Sentinel', 'Waterfall', 'Yuri Hime'. Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 10 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.. Growth rate: Slow. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Grafting.
Harvesting
A schizocarp of two samaras, wings incurved forming an arch, becoming reddish.
Color: Brown/Copper, Red/Burgundy. Type: Samara, Schizocarp.
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Spring
History & Origin
Origin: Asia: Japan, China, Korea, eastern Mongolia, southeastern Russia
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer, Drought
- +Attracts: This tree is mildly resistant to damage by deer.
- +Wildlife value: Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Small song birds are attracted to this plant.
Considerations
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Hosta
Thrives in similar shade conditions and complements the maple's canopy coverage
Astilbe
Enjoys filtered shade and adds colorful blooms while tolerating acidic soil conditions
Heuchera
Provides year-round foliage interest in partial shade with shallow root system
Japanese Painted Fern
Creates textural contrast with silvery foliage and thrives in similar acidic, well-draining soil
Azalea
Shares preference for acidic soil and partial shade, blooms complement maple's structure
Camellia
Both prefer acidic, well-draining soil and protection from harsh afternoon sun
Bleeding Heart
Spring blooms emerge before maple leafs out, then tolerates summer shade
Coral Bells
Shallow roots won't compete with maple, adds seasonal color in partial shade
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that can damage Japanese maple roots and overall health
Large Conifer Trees
Creates too much dense shade and competes for water, limiting maple's growth
Grass Lawn
Competes aggressively for surface water and nutrients that shallow maple roots need
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Generally healthy, sensitive to drought stress and wind damage
Common Pests
Aphids, scale insects, borers
Diseases
Verticillium wilt, leaf scorch, anthracnose