There are so many varieties of Japanese Maples. There are green-leafed ones that turn shades of yellow and orange in the fall. There are red-leafed ones that turn even brighter red when the temperatures drop. Leaves can be palmate or laceleaf. All want to be protected from harsh afternoon winds and hot sun in our Nevada climate.
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
Often hardier than cultivars they make a great choice for the gardener that is looking for a japanese maple for the first time. They are great for multiple plantings in the landscape or bonsai. Spring time color is light green with flecks of red from the leaf buds. As summer progresses the leaves turn a darker shade of green. Fall brings bright oranges and reds to the leaves.
Attaryi Full Moon Maple
Acer japonicum ‘Attaryi’
Medium upright tree to 20 feet or more Very strong grower and hardy. Strong orange and red fall colors
Autumn Moon Full Moon Maple
Acer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’
Autumn Moon has spring foliage which is an unusual pink orange color with an underlying shade of chartruese green. Fall color is a rich orange and red. 12 feet in 10 years.
Emmett’s Pumpkin
Acer japonicum ‘Emmett’s Pumpkin’
Typically around 12-15 feet in 20 years. Early Spring Emmett’s Pumpkin leafs out with tones of reddish orange over the light green leaves. As summer begins the leaf color becomes a more uniform bold green. In the fall the name does not disappoint. The giant leaves transform to deep orange with flashes of red
Fernleaf Full Moon Maple
Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’
‘Dancing Peacock’ has thickly dissected green leaves that give this maple the general appearance that a multitude of peacocks are dancing on the limb. Fantastic performer in the fall as leaves display brilliant scarlet tones with oranges and giving the appearance of flames. Attractive crimson-colored seeds. Aconitifolium means finely cut leaves. Hardy growing to 14 feet.
Jordan Full Moon Maple
Acer shirasawanum ‘Jordan’
Jordan has leaves that emerge limey green, changing to gold through the summer with wonderful red petioles that contrast nicely with the leaves. Introduction from Italy holds color almost all Summer. A vigorous upright tree with excellent sun tolerance. Growth to about 10 feet
Moonrise Full Moon Maple
Acer shirasawanum ‘ Moonrise’
In spring the leaves emerge with an orange-red blush turning to a chartreuse summer leaf color. Very nice and showy with great display of color throughout the seasons. Growth to 6-8ft tall
Vitifolium Full Moon
Acer japonicum ‘Vitifolium’
Vitifolium has coppery orange Spring leaves which turn to deep green in summer. Late summer may have the leaves bronze into oranges and reds. Mature trees often have bright red seeds which contrast nicely with the deep green leaves of summer. Vitifolium has spectacular fall colors of scarlet, yellow and orange on large grape-like leaves. Grows 18 feet tall and wide. Strong grower.
Beni Tsukasa
Acer palmatum ‘Beni Tsukasa’
Outstanding Spring color of pink to pale apricot with shaded portions of the plant mottled blush-pink and cream. Summer colors change through mottled pink/green to green, turning orange and red in autumn. A medium sized plant to 10 feet
Beni Maiko
Acer palmatum ‘Beni Maiko’
‘Beni Maiko’ is a striking tree shrub which produces fire-red leaves in early spring. As they mature the leaves appear thin in texture and fade to pinkish-red with green undertones. During the summer the leaves become greenish-red with the main veins remaining red. In the fall the leaves turn a deep pinkish-red which spreads to the center of the leaf until the whole leaf lights up. ‘Beni Maiko’ grows 4-6 feet in 10 years. The name ‘Beni Maiko’ means “Red Haired Dancing Girl.”
Beni Ubi Gohan
Acer palmatum ‘Beni Ubi Gohan’
A small, slow growing red-leafed linearlobum palmatum, perfect for containers or bonsai. In the landscape it will grow to about 5′ high and as wide. A very fine palmatum, this maple will add a touch of elegance to your garden. Scarlet Fall color.
Bloodgood
Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’
The bloodgood maple is very hardy and reliable for it’s deep black-red color which holds well through summer. Bloodgood is a great Maple for the landscape with upright growth to 20 feet. Fall color is crimson.
Crimson Queen Laceleaf
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’
A lace leaf cultivar that is an excellent all-round performer. Dark purple-red leaves fade slightly in late summer, changing to bright red in Fall. It has a typical weeping habit common to the laceleafs. Will reach 8′ x 8 in 12 years.
Emerald Lace Laceleaf
Acer palmatum dissectum’ Emerald Lace’
Emerald lace has finely dissected leaves that emerge bright green in spring with red petioles which remain red throughout the season. Summer color lightens to light green with red highlights. Great fall colors that run yellow to orange and finish up with fiery red. Hardy and vigorous. Cascading habit. Height 5-6 ‘ in 10 years and just as wide.
Emperor 1
Acer palmatum ‘Emperor 1’
Brilliant red color throughout the growing season. Emperor I leafs out later than Bloodgood in the spring, so it’s not as frost susceptible early in the season. Bright red fall color. Upright growing 20 feet.
Fireglow
Acer palmatum ‘Fireglow’
New growth on this vigorous, upright cultivar is bright cherry red that darkens some throughout the summer without fading. 10-12 feet in 8 years.
Garnet Laceleaf
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Garnet’
A vigorous growing cultivar that forms a beautiful, cascading, mound shaped specimen. The leaves are large for a laceleaf, and the deep red-orange color holds well into the Summer. Will reach 8′ in 12 years.
Green Weeping
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Viridis’
A hardy and fast growing green lace leaf that will reach 6 feet in 10 years. Virdis is a weeping maple, typical of most lace leaf maples. The light green spring color turns the full spectrum in the fall…yellow orange to bright red.
Jerre Schwartz
Acer palmatum ‘ Jerre Schwartz’
A vigorous bronze-green dwarf. The summer color is very pleasing with an unusual bronze orange. Great fall colors are yellows, oranges and reds. Jerre Swartz is a very handsome plant. Growth to about 5 feet.
Koto No Ito
Acer palmatum ‘Koto-no-ito’
A very interesting linearilobum Japanese maple cultivar with light green color leaves. Leaves are a bit more slender than others.. Koto no ito exhibits brilliant orange and red fall colors. Medium sized tree to 8 feet. A very good container plant.
Lil’ Anne’s Jewel
Acer palmatum ‘Lil’ Anne’s Jewel’
A stunning variegated leaf, in spring emerges with red and pink on the leaves. As summer progresses, leaves turn to a nice mix of burgundy, pink, white and green. Grows into a small upright pendulous tree to about 10′ in about 10 years. It is hardy and and holds its variegation well.
Mikawa Yatsubusa
Acer palmatum ‘Mikawa Yatsubusa’
A hardy green leaved dwarf Japanese maple whose leaves are spaced closely together on short, stubby shoots. Leaves overlap nicely to give the maple a unique appearance. Mikawa Yatsubusa has very nice branching habit. Fall colors are yellow orange to red. Moderate to slow growing 6 feet in 10 years. Makes a great container maple.
Omureyama
Acer palmatum ‘Omureyama’
Omureyama has long and pendulous new growth giving it a weeping willow appearance. Leaves are deeply divided and emerge with a light green color in spring. In summer the leaves darken slightly to a nice deep green. Very elegant and showy. Fall colors are a spectacular gold, orange to fiery scarlet color. Growth to 15′
Orange Dream
Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’
Orange Dream has beautiful spring colors of bright orange with prominent yellow midribs. Leaves later change to lime-yellow with orange margins. Fall color is bright yellow gold. Lights up the landscape brilliantly! Growth to 10 feet in 8 years.
Orangeola Laceleaf
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Orangeola’
An attractive vigorous growing small-leaved laceleaf. Spring leaf color is bright orange-red. Summer brings about leaves with a red with an orange-bronze overtone. Glowing red fall color
Oridono Nishiki
Acer palmatum ‘Oridono Nishiki’
Spring color is a splash of bright pink, white, cream or any combination of these colors with various-sized areas of green. The new shoots are sometimes pink and the newer bark has stripes of pink throughout. This plant is sturdy and vigorous and will form an upright, round topped tree, growing to 12 ft. in 10 years.
Oshio Beni
Acer palmatum ‘Oshio Beni’
Spring leaf color is orange-red, that becomes brick red in summer and orange to scarlet fall color. It is a hardy upright tree that is fairly fast growing. It will become a medium sized tree.
Pixie
Acer palmatum ‘Pixie’
Acer palmatum Pixie is like a miniature version of the Japanese maple Bloodgood. It’s leaves are a bright red in spring gradually changing to deep red throughout the summer and bright scarlet in autumn. Pixie will grow to about 6 -7′ high and about 6-7′ wide. Pixie is cold hardy to minus 15 degrees.
Purple Ghost
Acer palmatum ‘Purple Ghost’
The deep, bright, purple-red leaves emerge in the spring which are then overlaid with black-red veins gradually fading in the summer as the whole leaf darkens. Medium sized tree to 10 feet. . Once established this cultivar is hardy to -20 degrees
Red Dragon Laceleaf
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Red Dragon’
Red Dragon holds it’s deep purple-red color in shade better than any other red laceleaf. Red Dragon emerges in the spring bright scarlet in color, becoming rich burgundy in summer, turning to fiery red in the fall. Excellent small garden, rock garden or bonsai plant.
Red Pygmy
Acer palmatum ‘Red Pygmy’
An excellent semi dwarf ribbon-leaf maple with outstanding color. Red Pygmy has leaves that emerge vivid red and turn to dark red to purple in the summer. Grows to about 8 feet. Red Pygmy has beautiful orange fall color! Cold hardy -10F
Rhode Island Red
Acer palmatum ‘Rhode Island Red’
Rhode Island Red is a more compact dense leafed Japanese dwarf form than Pixie. It holds its color very well in the heat. Rhode Island Red has a bright red, spring flush that darkens to a gorgeous purple-red as the leaves mature. Fall foliage is an outstanding fiery orange to red. Grows 6 foot tall and 5 foot wide in 10 years. This tree is hardy to -20 degrees,
Ryusen
Acer palmatum ‘Ryusen’
Unique weeping variety with green palmate leaves. Most other cascading Japanese maple varieties have lace leaves. It has the extreme habit of cascading, which makes it ideal for a tight spot in the landscape or as a focal point for an unusual specimen. Ryusen has fall colors that go through the wonderful color changes of yellow – orange – to scarlet red.
Seiryu Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum ‘Seiryu’
Seiryu is a very sturdy and lovely plant with bright green leaves tipped with red in spring. Fantastic fall color with leaves turning yellow orange to red. A very nice hardy plant despite it’s delicate appearance. Will reach 12 feet in 10 years.
Shaina
Acer palmatum ‘Shaina’
Shaina is a unique dwarf. The dark red leaves of this nice Japanese maple are deeply divided and tend to grow in clusters. Shaina has bright red fall color. Growth to 6 feet. Very nice accent to any landscape.
Sharp’s Pygmy
Acer palmatum ‘Sharp’s Pygmy’
Slow growing maple that forms a nice rounded tree. It has lovely small leaves which are green with purple overtones. It makes an excellent bonsai specimen. It’s over all size will reach about 4-5 feet high and with a width 3-4 feet. Hardy. Orange to red fall color. Does well in containers.
Shindeshojo
Acer palmatum ‘Shindeshojo’
New growth on Shindeshojo is flaming scarlet or fire-engine red that holds for several months, gradually changing through mottled red to green in summer. A very nice classy maple. Full size will be about 8′ H by 10′ wide. Autumn colors are shades of orange and red.
Shishigashira
Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’
Very desirable maple for small gardens, container culture and bonsai. Slow growing upright that has thick bunched-up, curled green leaves that give it a unique appearance. The leafstalks are short and stiff. Shishigashira name means lions head, referring to the shape of the leaf bunches. Fall colors can be stunning golds and oranges turning eventually to crimson. May reach 18 feet tall.
Suminigashi
Acer palmatum ‘Suminigashi’
A vigorous deeply divided red leaf form of Japanese Maple. Vibrant red fall color. Vigorous growing to 18 feet.
Sunset Laceleaf
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Sunset’
Unique and exceedingly beautiful! Sunset is a laceleaf that sets itself apart from others with saw toothed leaves that have a base color of light green with overtones of rusty-orange.
Tamukeyama
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Tamukeyama’
A lace leaf Japanese maple whose color is deep red to purple changing to bright scarlet in fall. Tamukeyama is one of the fastest growing laceleafs, cascading to 8′ in 10 years.
Uki Gumo
Acer palmatum ‘Uki Gumo’
An outstanding variegated cultivar, the light green leaves are variously softly speckled and blocked with a light dusky-pink interspersed with cream. Ukigumo is also known as the Floating Cloud Maple. Growth to 12 feet.
