Dallas Morning News – December 3, 2020

Japanese Maples – One of the Best Imports

We’ve covered trees quite a bit in this column lately – and there’s a reason. There’s no other landscape element that can significantly increase property value like trees. Shrubs can’t do that – neither can flowers, ground covers or turf. The big trees are important obviously but the smaller, more ornamental trees can also be powerful and enjoyable.

Green Japanese maple – species plant

One of the small trees that’s an Asian import is a great choice because it behaves and performs like a native. And we welcome it. It’s the Japanese Maple.

What I thought might be most helpful to you is to discuss the Japanese maples in my garden that have proven to be the best.

Fall color of green Japanese maple

The largest growing and the ones that can take the most sun and abuse are the species plants that many of the hybrids have been bred from. They are called simply Green Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum). They are fast-ish growing, have green bark usually, few if any pest problems and have dramatic red fall color.

Dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’

The cultivar I have had the longest is Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Crimson Queen.’ It is rounded, slow-growing to maybe 10′ tall with a larger spread. Dissected-leaf plants are called laceleaf, cutleaf or threadleaf Japanese maples. It has small reddish flowers followed by colorful samaras that ripen late summer to early fall.

Mikawa yatsubusa

‘Mikawa yatsubusa’ is a true dwarf and slow growing to 5′. The foliage layers close together on curving branches. Fall color is scarlet, orange and yellow. Samara are red and decorative. It will tolerate some sun but best to have some afternoon shade. It was the Maple Society’s Maple of the Year in 2015.

Baby ghost Japanese maple

Acer palmatum ‘Baby Ghost’ is unique with deep amber to red spring foliage with green veins. Shortest of the ghost series of Japanese maples forming an upright tree to 6-8 ft. Fall colors are bright orange to red. It is one of the hardest in the ghost series to find but worth the effort.

Full moon Japanese maple

One of my newer additions is Acer japonicum ‘vitifolium.’ Full Moon Maple has the largest leaves of all Japanese maples. It is slow growing with red fall color mixed with oranges and yellows. Like many Japanese Maples, it is best planted in morning sun, afternoon shade.

‘Orangeola’ Japanese maple

An older favorite of mine is ‘Orangeola.’ It is a spectacular cascading Laceleaf Japanese Maple. It has remarkable leaf color in spring and fall. It’s also one of the delicate looking Japanese maples that can stand some full sun.

Murasaki kiyohime Japanese maple new growth

My favorite true dwarf is ‘Murasaki kiyohime‘. It needs a good common name but is a great dwarf Japanese maple with dramatic spring color showing red-purple leaf borders with green centers. Fall color is yellow, orange and red. Mine stays dense, rounded and low to the ground. Great in containers and works well for bonsai.