Japanese Maple Trees (Acer Palmatum)

Description

Are Japanese Maple Trees (Acer Palmatum) right for you?

🚨🚨 **** Important note: Sorry, No Sales to Western, Territories, or Phyto-certificate states due to shipping restrictions in your state (Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho). I can also only ship to Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi during bare root season (late fall through early spring) due to Japanese Beetle regulations.

These are fantastic trees for woodlands with morning sun, in Japanese-themed gardens, for Bonsai tree fans, or paired with evergreens for a color effect that doesn’t disappoint every single year. A favorite of many DIY landscapers is planting ferns, hostas, and other shade-loving plants under their canopy for even more color and extended bloom season!

✅ Botanical name: Acer palmatum

✅ Growing zones: 5-9

✅ Mature size: Averages 10 to 25 feet tall and wide. They are slow growers – only 1 to 2 feet per year when established.

✅ Light requirements: In colder zones (5 and 6), full sun is typically tolerated with adequate water. In zones 7, 8, and 9, these do best with full morning sun, dappled afternoon shading, and later day sun (ideally). Too much afternoon sun in hot climates (especially zones 8 and 9) scorches the leaves and can do more than ornamental damage to your tree.

✅ Soil: Japanese Maples thrive in more acidic soil. If your soil is more alkaline or neutral, it’s very simple to add a “soil acidifier” for optimal tree health. These trees also enjoy an organically rich soil so be sure to add plenty of compost, humus, or aged manure. It really helps them flourish. Compost helps with drainage as well, which these need.

✅ Water: Consistently moist. They do not like to dry out and they don’t like to be soggy either. More watering will be needed during hot and dry summers. It’s especially important to keep these consistently moist in their first year or two of growing while the roots get established.

✅ Fertilizer: We highly recommend Espoma Holly-Tone for these. Apply in spring. Holly-Tone is an acid lover’s fertilizer, which is perfect for these trees and does not over fertilize them, either.

✅ Mulching: Apply a 2 or 3-inch thick layer of mulch, in an 8 to 10-inch circle to maintain moisture and protect roots. Stop several inches away from the tree stem to avoid rot.

✅ These trees need to be planted in a somewhat sheltered location away from high winds (or excess sun in hotter climates)

✅ Because these are grown as seedlings (not grafted), these are uniquely colored and will vary from tree to tree and change from season to season.

✅ Acer palmatum in general is an easy-going, low-maintenance small tree to grow.

✅ 🍁 If pests or disease control is needed, do NOT use Neem oil on Japanese Maples. 🙂 It can cause real harm. Use Bonide “Insecticidal Super Soap” instead for pests. For fungal infections, use Bonide Copper Fungicide. Go easy though. It doesn’t take much and is best done before the tree leafs out and later in the year (in the evening hours). Tender new growth is easily damaged.

Even if you think you have a ‘black thumb,’ and can’t seem to grow a thing — you can grow these! If you put them in the right spot, keep them watered a few times a week, you’ll have a beautiful thriving tree in no time.

It’s a low effort tree with a BIG payoff that you’ll love for years to come.

If you have any questions, I’m here to help the best I can! As a small family nursery, my goal is to offer the “personal touch” to show you that we care about your business. Customer service, and your support, sincerely matter to us. Thanks for looking!