Dwarf Japanese Maples for Shade

Acer japonicum 'Abby's Weeping' is a full moon Japanese maple with a low growing habit and deeply divided green leaves, making it an attractive choice for any garden. It has a spectacular orange and red fall coloring. With its strong growth and cascading habit, this Japanese maple is a great choice for creating a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape. 10 Year Size: Height: 3-4 feet   Width: 3-4 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Akita yatsabusa’ is a dwarf Japanese maple with very small leaves. These small leaves are green in the spring and summer before turning a striking red in the fall. ‘Akita yatsabusa’ has short branches which give the tree a very elegant structure. Due to the short stature, small leaves, and short branching, ‘Akita yatsabusa’ is an excellent Japanese maple for bonsai or really just any small area of your yard.10 Year Size: Height: 3-4 feet Width: 2-4 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Eimini’ is a dwarf Japanese Maple with small green leaves. These leaves turn an attractive orange in the fall. ‘Eimini’ will form a dense shrub at maturity. 10 Year Size: Height: 2-4 feet Width: 2-4 feet

Sporting some of the finest hair like foliage of any linearilobum variety, 'Fairy Hair' bursts into spring with green leaves and red branches and petioles for striking effect. Fall color is fiery orange. This extremely dwarf introduction from Buchholz and Buchholz in Gaston, Oregon is very rare because it grows only an inch or two each year and it is difficult to propagate. 10 year size:  Height: 2-3 Feet   Width: 2-3 Feet

Acer palmatum ‘Felice’ is a slow growing, weeping Japanese maple with wide, deeply cut leaves. ‘Felice’ leafs out in the spring with green leaves that have an orangish hue. These leaves turn to a solid green in the summer. Fall color is a very nice orange. ‘Felice’ is a slow growing tree with a strong weeping habit, so it never gets very big.10 Year Size: Height: 3-5 feet Width: 4-6 feet

The leaves of ‘Goshiki kotohime’ are tightly clumped along the ends of the branches giving 'Goshiki kotohime' a unique appearance. This is a variegated form of 'Kotohime' and the plant shows some slight variegation or mottling to the leaves in early spring. Fall color is nice for a dwarf ranging from yellow-orange to orange-red.10 year size: Height: 2-4 Feet   Width: 1-2 Feet Spring Color: Green, Pink, WhiteSummer Color: GreenFall Color: Orange Sun Tolerance: ShadePlanting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum 'Goshiki shidare' is a very unusual, hard to find variegated lace leaf maple. The deeply dissected leaves emerge green cream and pink and remain brushed with white variegation all summer long. The growth habit is very pendulous and fall color is usually orange. Unfortunately much like 'Toyama nishiki' it tends to revert to solid green, maybe more so in hotter climates. Great care must be taken first by the propagator to make sure only the most colorful branches are grafted and then by the gardener to make sure any branches with solid green leaves are removed. 10 Year Size:   Height:  2-3 Feet    Width:  4-5 Feet

Acer palmatum ‘Hana Tsukasa’ is a heavily variegated Japanese maple with uniquely thin leaves. Whites and pinks cover the leaves of ‘Hana Tsukasa’ in the spring while the variegation transitions to white and green by summer. ‘Hana Tsukasa’ develops into a small tree and should be kept in mostly shade to maintain variegation and prevent leaf burning.10 Year Size: Height: 4-6 feet Width: 3-4 feet

With a name that means beautiful color this introduction from Talon Buchholz can not help but be a hit. The new foliage on this little bushy cultivar emerges chartreuse edged in red. As the leaves harden off they develop a cream an pink variegation reminiscent of 'Higasa yama'. The variegation fades as summers thermometer rises leaving an attractive medium green little dwarf for the rest of summer. This little guy is most happy in morning sun and afternoon shade. 10 year size: Height: 4-6 Feet   Width: 2-3 Feet  

'Issai nishiki momiji' is a very unique dwarf form of rough bark maple.  Issai means one year or a short period. Nishiki refers to the bark So Issai nishiki means that the bark becomes rough within the first year. Momiji means maple and therefore is repetitive when listed as 'Acer palmatum Issai nishiki momiji' and as such maybe this cultivar should only be listed as 'Issai nishiki'. Either way, this little plant is sure to delight. Very rarely available in the trade because of propagation difficulties. There is some question as to its cold hardiness. Fall color is red and orange. 10 Year size Height:  4-6  Feet    Width:  2-3 Feet

Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime' is a Fantastic Compact Dwarf Japanese Maple Perfect for Small Landscapes, Containers, and Bonsai Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime' is a compact dwarf Japanese maple that will grow much wider than tall. For a plant that never gets much more than 2 feet tall 'Kiyohime' is relatively fast growing and will become a specimen in the garden after just a few years. The dense and lateral growth habit make 'Kiyohime' almost look like a table at maturity. The size and shape make 'Kiyohime' a perfect companion Japanese maple for different spaces in the landscape. 'Kiyohime' emerges in spring with red tips to the leaves before turning green for the majority of the spring and summer. These green leaves are very small, star shape leaves that help to expand on the compact and dense look of the overall foliage. Fall color ranges from bronze to orange. Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime' is a hardy tree that can be grown in basically any climate in the United States. 'Kiyohime' will thrive in zones 5 through 9. 'Kiyohime' can be grown in full sun in all but the hottest climates. In warmer areas 'Kiyohime' would appreciate some protection from the hot afternoon sun. 'Kiyohime' does not require a great deal of sunlight and can be grown in mostly shade in pretty much any climate. Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime' is a perfect dwarf Japanese maple for bonsai for a number of reasons. The growth habit of 'Kiyohime' may make it look like small shrub in the ground but in a bonsai pot 'Kiyohime' looks like the miniature version of a full size tree. The small leaves of 'Kiyohime' help to create this effect as well. The natural density will also contribute to this affect and will require minimal pruning and attention. What is the 10 Year Size of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Height: 2-4 feet Width: 4-6 feet What is the Spring Color of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Green What is the Summer Color of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Green What is the Fall Color of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Orange What is the Leaf Shape of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Small Broad Leaf What is the Sun Tolerance of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Partial Sun What Growing Zones are suitable for Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Zones 5-9 What is the Shape of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Dwarf Japanese Maple What is the Growth Rate of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Moderate Growing Dwarf Japanese Maple How should Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime' be planted? Elevated in Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum ‘Komachi hime’ is a very dense small shrub like maple with bright red edges to the small yellow green leaves in early spring, In summer the red edges fade and the five lobed leaves become dark green throughout. Komachi can a be a horticultural term for dwarf and hime means small leaves. Komachi also can mean beautiful little girl and planted in partial shade this little girl will be a wonderful addition to any garden.     10 Year Size:  Height:  1-2 Feet   Width: 3-4 Feet

Acer palmatum ‘Koto maru’ is a fast growing dwarf Japanese maple. ‘Koto maru’ has very small, rounded leaves that emerge in the spring yellow with a red-oranges border. The coloring of the leaves really puts on a show in the spring. The leaves then fade to a light green throughout the summer. Fall color is then orange to red. ‘Koto maru’ will have long shoots of new growth while it is young, but it will develop into a dense, shrubby tree at maturity. 10 Year Size: Height: 3-5 feet Width: 3-5 feet