Acer Palmatum Japanese Maples

Acer palmatum ‘Autumn Fire’ grows more prostrate than pendulous forming a beautiful mushroom shaped mound. The new spring foliage emerges light green edged in pink. As summer arrives the pink fades and the green leaves become darker. Fall color is a fiery mix of red and orange.  A chance seedling found in 1979, 'Autumn Fire' was finally named in 1996 by Dells Japanese Maple Nursery in Oregon.10 Year Size:  Height:  3-5 Feet    Width:  6-8 FeetSpring Color: Light GreenSummer Color: GreenFall Color: Orange RedSun Tolerance: FullPlanting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum 'Carll's Corner' has a short center lobe that gives this small, dense red maple an interesting texture. Emerging bright red almost pink in spring the new leaves soon become a dark burgundy. The color holds well most of the summer even in warmer climates where some afternoon shade is preferred. Fall color is dark red. Slow growing, 'Carll's Corner' eventually forms nice rounded shrub. Though often misspelled as ‘Carli’s Corner’, the correct name is 'Carll's Corner' which is a shopping center in Bridgeton/Upper Deerfield, NJ. This is where the original broom was found in a tree. 10 year size: Height: 4-5 feet   Width: 3-4 feet   Spring Color: Red Summer Color: Burgundy Fall Color: Red Sun Tolerance: Full Planting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum ‘Orion’ is another great plant from Dick Wolff of Red Maple Nursery in Pennsylvania, The very small deeply divided foliage appears bright cherry red in early spring. As the leaves age they become maroon, copper and olive green and much larger. This little tree always seems to have new growth at the tips with little bursts of red sitting at the branch ends creating an explosion of color like a miniature fireworks display in the garden. Fall color is generally a soft orange. 10 Year Size: Height: 4-5 Feet Width: 3-4 Feet

Acer palmatum ‘Gable’s Glory’ is a fascinating Japanese maple with some incredible color changes. ‘Gable’s Glory’ first emerges in the spring with bright red, broad leaves. This is a stunning color that persists through the spring. As the temperatures rise, ‘Gable’s Glory’ changes to a bronze-red color. The color of the leaves continues to get lighter until they are nearly yellow in the peak of summer. What is even more impressive than the bright summer color, is the new growth that this tree puts on late in the summer months. ‘Gable’s Glory’ will push out more of that bright red spring growth that appears on top of the yellow summer color. This makes for a remarkable contrast in color on the same tree. Fall color is then a nice orange to red. 10 Year Size: Height: 8-10 feet Width: 4-6 feet

Acer palmatum 'Pink Ballerina' is a lace leaf Japanese Maple with pink variegation. 'Pink Ballerina' has a dark red leaf with bright pink variegation scattered across the foliage. The variegation is quite striking and similar to that of Acer palmatum 'Hana Matoi'. 'Pink Ballerina' is a low growing and spreading Japanese Maple. 'Pink Ballerina' will maintain a smaller growth habit at maturity. 10 Year Size: Height: 3-5 feet   Width: 3-5 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Beni Shien’ is possibly the most unique maple introduced in the last fifty years. Harold Johnson of Tallahassee, Alabama introduced this wonderful variegated Japanese maple born of the south and then gave it a Japanese name that translates to red smoke. The deeply divided leaves emerge more purple than anything else, but will have cream markings starting at the base of the leaf and extending along the margins of most of the lobes. In summer the purple of spring will change to olive green in more shade or bronze in more sun. In late summer new red growth will pop out all over the plant. Fall color is usually orange or red. The really cool thing is that no two leaves will be shaped the same. 10 year size:  Height: 8-10 Feet   Width: 6-8 Feet Spring Color: Purple with Cream Edges Summer Color: Olive Green, Bronze Fall Color: Red, Orange Sun Tolerance: Full Planting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum 'Black Hole' is a Japanese maple with reticulated variegation similar to its parent, 'Purple Ghost'. 'Black Hole' has even darker foliage than 'Purple Ghost'. The reticulated veins are very prominent early in spring but fade as the foliage gets darker. The fall color of 'Black Hole' is dark red. 10 Year Size: Height: 10-12 feet   Width: 6-8 feet 

Starting in early spring with bright pink leaves the reticulation becomes more pronounced and the leaves become more red as spring progresses. In summer the leaves darken and become more purple while the prominent black veins remain. While more sun tolerant than other reticulated varieties this cultivar still appreciates some shade especially in hotter climates. Fall color is orange and spectacular. 10 Year Size:  Height: 4-6 Feet   Width: 3-4 Feet

Acer palmatum ‘Dai’ is a newer Japanese maple from Korea with an exceptional weeping habit. The leaves of ‘Dai’ are quite fine compared to other similar lace leaf Japanese maples. ‘Dai’ emerges in spring with a bright red color to the foliage with pink and orange undertones. ‘Dai’ then turns green by summer. ‘Dai’ then shows out again in the fall with an array of fiery reds and oranges. ‘Dai’ is a small growing Japanese maple with a strong weeping habit. For best colors, I would recommend providing ‘Dai’ morning sun and afternoon shade in hotter climates.10 Year Size: Height: 3-5 feet Width: 4-6 feet

Acer palmatum 'Cotton Candy' is a great Japanese maple with outstanding pink and white variegation. 'Cotton Candy' has splashes of this pink and white color scattered all across its otherwise green foliage. 'Cotton Candy' is a strong variegated Japanese maple and holds these variegated colors deep into the summer. Fall color is an impressive orange.  10 Year Size: Height: 6-8 feet   Width: 4-6 feet 

When young, Acer palmatum 'Omure yama' may develop a leader and grow up, but as the tree reaches maturity the long slender new growth cascades down, giving the tree the weeping look that it is known for. Some growers stake 'Omure yama' when young to help it attain initial height from which to weep from. Plants that never develop a leader become wide weeping mounds not much different than the growth habit of many dissectums. I have heard other authors claim that this or that variety has the best fall color of any Japanese maple. I would not have the audacity to claim that about any cultivar but year in and year out I would say the reds, oranges and yellows of  'Omure yama' in fall are at least equal to any other variety we grow.10 Year Size:  Height: 6-10 Feet Width: 8-10 FeetSpring Color: GreenSummer Color: GreenFall Color: Orange RedSun Tolerance: PartialPlanting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum ‘Mizuho beni’ has brilliant orange-yellow foliage edged with bright crimson bursting from pink bud sheaths that put on a show so bright and colorful most other plants in the garden are just green with envy. After the dazzling spring display the summer leaves are green with red edges and always nice to look at. Fall color is red to orange. Winter is highlighted by red twigs at the branch ends. 10 Year size:  Height: 8-10 Feet Width: 6-8 FeetSpring Color: YellowSummer Color: GreenFall Color: OrangeSun Tolerance: FullPlanting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil