Large Japanese maple tree with red orange fall foliage.

Japanese Maple

Japanese maple trees are beautiful additions to any home garden. They are easy to grow and care for, and they come in a variety of colors that will add interest to your garden. Down below, you’ll find tips guides on how to grow and care for these lovely ornamentals and also share some of our favorite varieties, pest and disease management, and more!

If you are new to Japanese maples, start here. If you are looking for info on other maple tree types, we have that too!

Tips for Growing ‘Crimson Queen’ Japanese Maple Trees

A horizontal image of a small 'Crimson Queen' weeping Japanese maple growing in the garden pictured in bright sunshine.

‘Crimson Queen’ is a top choice when it comes to weeping, red, laceleaf Japanese maples. These petite trees grow a bit wider than tall, with elegant, heavily serrated, palmate leaves that live up to the laceleaf name. With bright red leaves that persist until the fall, it creates a striking focal point in the garden.

How to Graft Japanese Maple Trees

A close up horizontal image of the bright red foliage of a Japanese maple pictured on a soft focus background.

Grafting is an excellent method for propagating a Japanese maple to create a new plant that you love. Learn all about the process, from selecting your tools and cutting the scion to prepping the rootstock and how to join them together. From there, you’ll learn how to care for the grafted tree until it’s ready to plant.

Leaf Spots on Japanese Maples: 7 Causes and Treatments

A horizontal shot of a Japanese maple tree with leaves in autumnal colors of red, gold, and yellow. The tree is lit by a beam of sunlight.

Spots are cute on a puppy, not on a Japanese maple. Typically an indication that something bad is happening inside your plant, spotted leaves are like a big old warning sign from your tree. Fungal and bacterial disease can both result in spots that vary from pale white splotches to deep black tar-like spots. Read more.

How to Grow and Care for Japanese Maple Trees

A horizontal image of a Japanese maple tree growing in a formal garden.

Do you need a focal point for your landscape? With a plethora of cultivars, you’re likely to find what you’re looking for in a Japanese maple. From weeping dwarf trees to tall ones covered in scarlet foliage, there’s a massive range to select from. In this guide, we’ll talk about how to select, plant, and grow one.

How to Grow and Care for Weeping Japanese Maples

A close up horizontal image of a purple and a green Japanese weeping maple growing side by side in the garden.

With an elegantly cascading growth habit and finely cut, feathery foliage, the Japanese weeping maple offers a beautiful twist on an old favorite. In this Acer palmatum var. dissectum guide, we provide all of the cultivation information you need to grow these trees in your own landscape. Read more now.

21 of the Best Japanese Maple Varieties

A close up horizontal image of the deep red autumn foliage of a Japanese maple tree growing in the garden.

Do you want a Japanese maple but can’t decide which one to choose? Learn about our top picks to help narrow down the wide array of colors, shapes, and sizes available. Our roundup introduces 21 of the prettiest, hardiest, and most unique Japanese maples out there so you can make the right choice for your garden.

How to Grow and Care for Coral Bark Japanese Maple Trees

A close up horizontal image of the pink bark and green foliage of a coral bark Japanese maple growing in the garden.

With gorgeous spring, summer, and fall foliage, the coral bark Japanese maple is quite stunning. But even in winter when the branches are devoid of leaves, this tree is very alluring thanks to its juvenile branches that stand out, providing stark contrast in coral pink. Read our growing guide now to learn more!

A Guide to the Different Types of Japanese Maple Trees

A close up horizontal image of different varieties of Japanese maple trees growing in the garden.

Japanese maples come in a wide range of colors, sizes, and leaf shapes. There are trees with coral bark and some with pink foliage. Some have deeply-lobed leaves, while others have distinct variegation. How do you make sense of all the different types? This guide explains the different categories of Japanese maples.

How to Grow Japanese Maple Trees in Pots and Containers

A close up horizontal image of a Japanese maple tree growing in a large, decorative pot set on drainage metal in a formal garden.

Japanese maple is one of the best trees out there for container growing. These have a compact, non-invasive root system and they grow slowly. But while they’re mild-mannered, they provide an exceptional display with bold, bright, and interestingly-shaped foliage, and varied, elegant growth habits. Read more now.

How to Deal with Japanese Maple Winter Dieback

A horizontal image of a Japanese maple tree growing outside a residence covered in a light dusting of snow.

Japanese maples are fairly sturdy trees that can live a long time but they’re not immune to winter dieback. When temperatures rise and fall repeatedly, especially coupled with desiccating winds, it can seriously harm your precious plants. Learn all about dealing with and preventing winter damage in Japanese maples now.

How to Grow a Japanese Maple Bonsai

A close up horizontal image of a Japanese maple tree growing as a bonsai set on a wooden plinth outdoors with a green hedge in the background.

Japanese maple bonsai trees are striking with their unique foliage and dramatic forms. Plus, each season brings a change as they transition from spring into winter. This guide demystifies the process of planting and caring for one of your own. Don’t worry, while they aren’t the easiest species to grow, it isn’t hard.

17 of the Best Dwarf Japanese Maple Varieties

A close up horizontal image of a dwarf Japanese maple growing by the side of a street in a formal rock garden.

Want to create a massive impact in a minimum amount of space? Look no further than dwarf Japanese maples. This guide reveals 17 of the best options, from laceleaf weeping types to upright green leaf cultivars that make a dramatic statement in a tiny package. All of these top picks stay under about 10 feet tall.

11 of the Best Red Japanese Maples for Your Garden

A close up horizontal image of the foliage of a red Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

Red Japanese maples stand out against all the green in the garden with their bright coloring. Plus, the scarlet hue really brings out the unique shape of the lobes and serration of the leaves. Here are 11 of the toughest, brightest, and most gorgeous red Japanese maple options that we’ve found to bring to your garden.

Japanese Maple Lifespan: How Long Can These Trees Live?

A close up horizontal image of a large Japanese maple tree growing in a park with the sun behind it creating a pleasing silhouette.

Japanese maples are elegant trees well worth the investment. If you want a tree that makes an impact, you can’t go wrong here. But how long can you expect yours to thrive? How long will all your money and hard work last? This guide explains Japanese maple lifespans and what you can do to influence how long they live.

How and When to Prune Japanese Maples

A close up horizontal image of a gardener using a pair of long-handled secateurs to prune a Japanese maple tree.

Elegant Japanese maples don’t get that way all on their own. It takes careful pruning to keep the trees healthy and their shape looking graceful. All that’s required are some thoughtful winter cutbacks and spring shaping. Learn more about when and how to prune Japanese maples the right way to create a striking display.

How to Identify and Control Japanese Maple Pests

A close up horizontal image of the bright fall foliage of a Japanese maple tree pictured in light filtered sunshine on a soft focus background.

Japanese maples are attractive trees, with their richly colored, delicately feathered leaves – and bugs agree. There are a variety of pests that like to snack on the vibrant foliage and suck the sap. Learn everything you need to know about common Japanese maple pests and how to deal with them in this guide. Read more now.

13 of the Best Companion Plants for Japanese Maple Trees

A close up horizontal image of a Japanese maple growing in a garden border with carefully chosen companion plants.

A Japanese maple’s gorgeous foliage and attractive growing habit look all the more beautiful when complementary plantings are incorporated into the nearby landscape. In this guide to Acer palmatum companion plants, we’ll cover 13 of the best options to grow in a Japanese maple’s immediate vicinity. Read more now.

How to Propagate Japanese Maples from Seed

A close up horizontal image of a Japanese maple growing in the garden by a body of water.

For a simple, inexpensive, and reliable way of propagating Japanese maple trees, look to their seeds. Growing Acer palmatum from seed is an empowering and enjoyable way of acquiring this gorgeous specimen for yourself, and we’ll cover everything you need to know in this propagation guide. Read more now.

How and When to Fertilize Japanese Maple Trees

A horizontal image of a Japanese maple tree growing outside a residence pictured in autumn sunshine.

A Japanese maple looks absolutely glorious – and even more so when you fertilize it properly! In our guide to feeding A. palmatum trees, we cover everything you need to know to provide your Japanese maple with the proper nutrition, including timing, techniques, and why you should bother fertilizing in the first place.