Dwarf Japanese Maples for Partial Sun

Acer palmatum ‘Anne Irene’ is a very unique variety of Japanese maple. ‘Anne Irene’ emerges in the spring with bright yellow leaves with a reddish border. These leaves are shaped different than just about any other Japanese maple. The lobes are deeply divided and each lobe is somewhat dissected but not enough to be classified as a dissectum. ‘Anne Irene’ also has a very upright habit unlike most dissectums. The red border of these strangely shaped leaves fades away by summer, but the yellow color persists all the way until fall. In the fall the leaves darken to a vibrant red. 10 Year Size: Height: 4-6 feet Width: 2-4 feet

‘Chantilly Lace’ was found at Red Maple Nursery in 1949 and introduced by Billy Shwartz. This great Japanese maple with the Rock and Roll name has very finely cut leaves.  New growth appears red but very quickly changes to green from the center of the leaf out. This effect gives the plant almost a variegated appearance. By summer the foliage is light green almost chartreuse and contrasts greatly with other green maples that start yellow-green only to darken as summer approaches. Fall color is bright raspberry red. 'Chantilly Lace' grows into an irregular mound, some pruning of unruly branches will add to its appeal. 10 Year Size: Height: 4-6 feet Width: 6-8 feet Spring Color: Peach Summer Color: Green Fall Color: Raspberry Red Sun Tolerance: Shade Planting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum ‘Diana’ is a dwarf Japanese maple with an upright habit. ‘Diana’ has small leaves that emerge yellow in the spring. These yellow leaves turn to green for most of the summer. Fall color is a bright, showy red. 10 Year Size: Height: 4-6 feet Width: 3-4 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Enkan’ has very fine linearilobum foliage and a small compact growth habit. More gardeners should find a spot for 'Enkan' in the garden. In spring foliage emerges a deep wine color and holds its red into the summer very well. Fall color ranges from orange red to deep red. Some palmate leaves appear on new growth but older foliage is quite narrow. It is very interesting the way leaves seem to hang downward from the petioles.  This variety is said to come from South Korea but has a Japanese name that means the tube. These trees are not displaying their usual characteristics, but they are still great looking Japanese maples. In my experience reverted trees still display typical fall colors regardless of the shape of the leaves. These trees are also not guaranteed to never regain their distinguishing characteristics, but they aren't currently showing it so it has to be noted.  10 year size:  Height: 5-7 Feet   Width: 4-5 Feet

Acer palmatum 'Eye of the Tiger' is a dwarf Japanese maple with delicate lacy leaves. These small leaves emerge in spring with a light red to almost peachy color. By summer the leaves turn to a light green. Summer flushes of new growth offer more splashes of the vibrant spring color across the foliage. Fall color is then a bright red. 'Eye of the Tiger' has a very low and spreading growth habit. 10 Year Size: Height: 3-5 feet   Width: 4-6 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Green Mist’ is one of the most beautiful and elegant of all the green lace leaf Japanese maple trees. It forms a graceful cascading tree with fine, delicate foliage that really looks like a cloud of green mist. Fall color is a vibrant orange.10 Year Size: Height: 4-6 feet Width: 4-6 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Kamagata’ is dwarf form of palmatum introduced by J.D. Vertrees himself. The small delicate looking leaves first appear in spring edged in purple. By summer they become a nice bright green. Fall color is usually yellow to orange.10 year size: Height: 3-5 Feet   Width: 2-4 Feet    

Acer palmatum ‘Kinshi’ has some of the finest leaves of the linearlobum type maples. This little guy is a hit in any garden. 'Kinshi' is relatively quick growing when young for a maple that is still a small tree at maturity. Spring color is lime green, the color darkens in summer. In Japanese, 'Kinshi' means golden threads which perfectly describes this tree in fall.  10 year size:  Height: 4-6 Feet   Width: 3-4 Feet Spring Color: Green Summer Color: Green Fall Color: Gold Sun Tolerance: Partial Planting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum ‘Kurenai Jishi’ is often referred to as the red lion’s head maple. ‘Kurenai jishi’ leafs out bright red in the spring with some of the most unique foliage you will ever see on a Japanese maple. The leaves are curled up, crinkled, and close to the branch similar to ‘Shishigashira’. The foliage on ‘Kurenai jishi’ turns from bright red to burgundy to green from spring to summer. The leaves then turn orange-red in fall. ‘Kurenai jishi’ is a dwarf Japanese maple that will only reach about 4 feet tall at maturity. 10 Year Size: Height: 3-5 feet Width: 1-3 feet

Acer palmatum 'Little Red' the Red Upright Growing Compact Dwarf Japanese Maple Acer palmatum 'Little Red' is a compact dwarf Japanese maple with an upright growth habit. 'Little Red' will grow very similarly to 'Twombly's Red Sentinel' but will stay shorter only getting to about 6 feet tall at maturity. 'Little Red' will grow with a very dense and compact growth habit that will develop in a shape like a short column. The size and shape of 'Little Red' make it perfect for small and narrow spaces in the landscape. Acer palmatum 'Little Red' emerges in the spring with stunning red leaves. The leaves of 'Little Red' are small and reminiscent of other red Japanese maples discovered as witches' brooms. The small leaves fade to burgundy in the summer and eventually turn a stunning bright red in the fall. Acer palmatum 'Little Red' can be grown in many different climates across the country. 'Little Red' should grow well in zones 5 through 9 and can be grown in full sun in all but the very hottest climates. In the hotter areas 'Little Red' would prefer a break from the hot afternoon sun. What is the 10 Year Size of Acer palmatum 'Little Red'? Height: 6-8 feet Width: 2-4 feet What is the Spring Color of Acer palmatum 'Little Red'? Red What is the Summer Color of Acer palmatum 'Little Red'? Burgundy What is the Fall Color of Acer palmatum 'Little Red'? Bright Red What is the Leaf Shape of Acer palmatum 'Little Red'? Small Broad Leaf What is the Sun Tolerance of Acer palmatum 'Little Red'? Partial Sun What Growing Zones are suitable for Acer palmatum 'Little Red'? Zones 5-9 What is the Shape of Acer palmatum 'Little Red'? Compact Japanese Maple What is the Growth Rate of Acer palmatum 'Little Red'? Fast Growing Dwarf Japanese Maple How should Acer palmatum 'Little Red' be planted? Elevated in Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum ‘Pendula Angustilobum’ is a fast growing lace leaf with yellow-green leaves in the spring. These leaves turn to a light green in the summer. In the fall, ‘Pendula Angustilobum’ puts on a show with bright yellow to orange foliage. ‘Pendula Angustilobum’ has a wide spreading habit.10 Year Size: Height: 3-5 feet Width: 6-8 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Pung kil’ is a Japanese maple tree with very thin leaves. These thin leaves emerge in spring with very dark red color. This color mostly remains throughout the summer. Fall color is orange-red. ‘Pung kil’ is a slow grower that doesn’t get very large.10 Year Size: Height 5-7 feet Width: 3-5 feet

Acer palmatum 'Rhode Island Red' is a dwarf Japanese maple with much larger leaves than is typical of a dwarf Japanese maple. The leaves of 'Rhode Island Red' are very similar to popular varieties such as 'Bloodgood' and 'Red Emperor'. 'Rhode Island Red' has broad leaves that emerge bright red in spring before darkening to a burgundy color for most of the spring. The color of 'Rhode Island Red' will fade slightly in the summer as most red Japanese maples do. The leaves then turn bright red in the fall. 'Rhode Island Red' has a short, compact habit that is very unique compared to most Japanese maples.  10 Year Size: Height: 4-6 feet   Width: 4-6 feet

'Rikuzen shidare' has a weeping habit and grows similarly to Ryu sei. It will only grow as tall as it is staked and will weep down to the ground from there. Where it differs from Ryusei is in it's stunning large leaves. The leaves on Rikuzen shidare have a similar shape to an upright grower called 'Osakazuki'. Fall color on Rikuzen shidare is also different from Ryusei as it goes yellow in the fall verses red.  Spring & Summer Color: Green Fall Color: Yellow Height: As high as you stake it, but naturally quite short

Acer palmatum ‘Seiun kaku’ is a Japanese cultivar has bright green leaves and red petioles. Similar to 'Mikawa yatsubusa' in that the leaves are layered one over the other like tiles on a roof but 'Seuin kaku' is much faster growing developing into a small more open and airy tree. 'Seiun kaku' finishes most years with a very nice deep red fall color. The Japanese name means blue-green tower or palace in the clouds. 10 year size: Height: 5-6 Feet   Width: 2-3 Feet