Upright Japanese Maples

Acer palmatum ‘Wildfire’ is a brilliant, coral bark Japanese maple with light green leaves in the spring. This foliage eventually turns golden yellow to orange in the fall. ‘Wildfire’ has incredible winter interest as well with yellow to red colored bark. 10 Year Size: Height: 8-10 feet Width: 4-6 feet

Acer palmatum 'Strawberry Spring' is a striking new reticulated Japanese maple cultivar discovered as a seedling of Amber Ghost by breeder Talon Buchholz. It dazzles with rosy pink spring foliage heavily etched with deep green veins, gradually transforming through summer to creamy green and finally showcasing vibrant oranges and reds in the fall. Fresh leaves emerge in spring a bright strawberry‑pink with dramatic dark green veining. 'Strawberry Spring' is considered among the prettiest spring displays of any maple. In the summer the pink fades to creamy white or light green, while new growth may retain pink highlights against green veins. Finally, foliage turns to warm orange-red with rusty tones in the fall. With so many color changes 'Strawberry Spring' offers a season‑long spectacle. 'Strawberry Spring' is an upright, moderately compact tree, expected to reach 6 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide within 10 years. 'Strawberry Spring' is perfect as a focal specimen. It is dramatic in spring and great for containers or small garden areas. 'Strawberry Spring' should grow well in USDA Zones 5–9, and is suitable for a wide range of climates. This beautiful tree prefers morning sun and afternoon shade. This is especially important in warmer areas to avoid sunburn and preserve the intense pink spring hues. Like most Japanese maples 'Strawberry Spring' thrives in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Regular and consistent watering a couple times per week is needed, especially during dry spells and when the tree is young, to support health and variegation retention. Maintenance for 'Strawberry Spring' is minimal. Prune to remove dead or crossing branches for structural integrity, but avoid heavy pruning to retain the natural upright form. Due to its compact habit, it's an excellent choice for container gardening, especially in climates where winter minimal protection or controlled conditions are beneficial. Acer palmatum 'Strawberry Spring’ emerged naturally as a chance seedling from Amber Ghost, another popular reticulated cultivar, originally found by Talon Buchholz. 'Strawberry Spring' is often likened to other cultivars like Olsen’s Frosted Strawberry. While similar, Olsen’s Frosted Strawberry shows cream-veined leaves with deeper red undersides and more dramatic variegation by midsummer. ‘Strawberry Spring’ leans more consistently toward pink spring tones and retains a finer contrast with its green veins. In hot climates, provide light shade during peak afternoon to preserve variegation and prevent leaf scorch. Fertilize lightly in spring with balanced slow‑release fertilizer such as Happy Frog Japanese Maple Fertilizer to boost new growth. Use mulch-based moisture retention techniques to maintain root conditions. Acer palmatum 'Strawberry Spring' brings a show-stopping color display from spring through autumn—its bold reticulated pattern and seasonal transitions make it a prized choice among collectors and garden designers. It’s becoming one of the most-loved reticulated varieties. Just plant smartly, protect from harsh sun, and enjoy its colorful journey through the seasons. 10 Year Size: Height: 6-8 feet Width: 4-6 feet

Discovered by Ed "Skeeter" Rod in Pennsylvania this is a witches broom with the usual twiggy growth but a very vigorous upright habit. The small attractive leaves emerge bright red in spring before turning dark red in summer. This plant holds it's color very well even in hot climates. It also seems to hold color well in fairly heavy shade. Fall color is a bright scarlet and rather late compared to other maples. 10 Year Size: Height:  6-8 Feet  Width: 3-4 FeetSpring Color: RedSummer Color: RedFall Color: RedSun Tolerance: PartialPlanting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

‘Beni maiko’ means red dancing girl. Emerging foliage in spring is brilliant fire engine red turning pinkish before turning totally green by late May in Georgia. In spring it is hard to distinguish this cultivar from others like 'Shin de shojo' or 'Shishio Improved'. It probably does not hold its color as long as either of these cultivars but in summer after turning completely green it does something unique. The second season growth on mature plants will come out puckered. dark scarlet red with green veins and the lobes of the small odd leaves will sometimes be very strangely shaped. 'Beni maiko' has a very graceful habit, starting off as openly vase shaped when young becomig more round topped with age. Fall color is usually orange. 10 Year Size: Height: 8-10 feet    Width: 6-8 feet Spring Color: Red Summer Color: Green Fall Color: Orange Sun Tolerance: Partial Planting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

A very upright vigorous growing palmatum destined to become more widely used as gardens become smaller. Foliage emerges lime green in early spring before turning darker green in summer. One of the most sun and heat tolerant Japanese Maples. Fall color is a brilliant red. 10 Year Size:  Height: 18-22 Feet   Width: 6-8 Feet Spring Color: Green Summer Color: Green Fall Color: Orange Sun Tolerance: Full Planting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil Our 1 Gallon and 3 Gallon sizes are available for shipping and in store pickup. Our larger sizes (7 Gallon and bigger) are only available for in store pickup.

‘Akin’s E.P.’ is a Japanese maple built for the south. Born in Louisiana, Acer palmatum ‘Akin’s E.P.’ is an excellent grower even in our extreme summer heat. ‘Akin’s E.P.’ has small, palmate leaves that emerge a deep red or maroon in the spring. The color of these leaves fades somewhat in the summer as all maples do in the heat, however ‘Akin’s E.P.’ will hold most of its spring color given a little afternoon shade. Fall color is a vibrant red. ‘Akin’s E.P.’ is a fast grower when young but shouldn’t grow to more than 12 feet tall. ‘Akin’s E.P.’ compares favorably to that of Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ especially as a tree that won’t get as big. 10 Year Size: Height: 10-12 feet Width: 4-6 feetSpring Color: RedSummer Color: BurgundyFall Color: RedSun Tolerance: FullPlanting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum ‘Mahogany’ is a fantastic, red upright Japanese maple. Brilliant deep red leaves emerge on ‘Mahogany’ in the spring. ‘Mahogany’ then holds varying shades of red all year long, often developing a rusty red color in the summer. Fall color is a bright orange-red that distinguishes itself from most other red upright Japanese maples. ‘Mahogany’ handles full sun and heat well even in the hottest climates. 10 Year Size: Height: 10-12 Width: 6-8 feet

Unfortunately, there are two trees grown with the name 'Chitose yama'. The original, a red clone from Japan dating back to the list of 1882 and this one, a green clone, named at Ex bury gardens in England around 1990. The name refers to the mountains near the town of Chitose on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.  Since this tree has no legitimate claim to the name being second, we refer to it as Chitose yama "Ex bury form".  All that aside, this is a wonderful tree. Good enough to win the Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden Merritt in 1993. In early spring the leaves emerge a distinctive  pale green with red tips covered with a white pubescence. If this weren't striking enough the entire tree is usually covered with an abundance of beautiful little red blooms. As temperatures warm and summer approaches the heavily textured leaves turn olive green complimented by the now ripe red samaras adorning the tree. As if all this were not enough, the real show starts in fall when this form of Chitose yama turns a traffic stopping bright red that literally glows. Usually as wide as tall, mature specimens of this clone become exceptionally graceful.10 Year size: Height: 5-6 Feet  Width: 6-8 Feet

Acer palmatum 'Sister Ghost' emerges yellow with dark veins in early spring. Sometimes in early spring leaves have a slight pink cast. By summer foliage is mostly green with a few specks of yellow to let you know this plant was variegated. Fall color is orange with hints of yellow and red. Generally growing wider than tall this small tree does best in partial shade in all but the coolest areas. Introduced by Talon Buchholz as part of the ghost series. 10 year size:   Height: 5-6 Feet   Width: 6-8 Feet Spring Color: White and Green Summer Color: Green and White Fall Color: Orange Sun Tolerance: Partial Planting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum 'Orange Flame' is a Japanese maple with fantastic fall color. 'Orange Flame' has narrow leaves with deeply divided lobes which gives it a different texture than the majority of upright growing Japanese maples. These leaves emerge in the spring with a green and bronze color that matures to a solid green color later in the spring. Fall is when 'Orange Flame' puts on a show. 'Orange Flame' will have bright fiery orange color which can be outstanding in the yard.  10 Year Size: Height: 14-16 feet   Width: 8-10 feet 

Acer palmatum ‘Hogyoku’ is an upright, green Japanese maple with very attractive foliage. 'Hogyoku' is mostly known for its pumpkin orange fall color. In warmer climates it sometimes has yellow leaves in the fall that have orange and red washed across them. Hogyoku matures into a compact stocky tree over time and is somewhat slower growing than other similar trees. The thick green leaves have a little flip or curve to the leaf margins giving the tree a wonderful texture that compliments almost any garden setting. Hogyoku tolerates full sun in all but the hottest climates. A perennial favorite introduced in Japan prior to 1882. 10 Year size:  Height: 10-12 Feet Width: 6-8 Feet Spring color: Green Summer Color: Green Fall Color: Orange Sun Tolerance: Partial Planting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum ‘Phantom Flame’ is a rare and unusual Japanese maple with a unique combination of “ghost” and “red finger nails“. ‘Phantom flame’ has bright white foliage in the spring with green veining. These bright leaves look as though they have been dipped in red paint. The bright, reticulated foliage remains even through the summer. Fall color is orange. 10 Year Size: Height: 6-8 feet Width: 4-6 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Fall’s Fire’ is a fantastic small, upright Japanese maple with unique leaves that will add a different texture to the garden. ‘Fall’s Fire’ has much smaller leaves than most upright varieties and the leaves are deeply serrated, creating an almost lace leaf look to the foliage. ‘Fall’s Fire’ has beautiful green leaves throughout the spring and summer, but it unsurprisingly gets its name from the fall color. The name says it all here as fall sets this tree ablaze with oranges and yellows before becoming mostly red before dropping its leaves. ‘Fall’s Fire’ certainly is a show stopper at the end of the year. 10 Year Size: Height: 8-10 feet Width: 6-8 feet

In early spring the palmate leaves emerge pinkish red with green veins giving the entire round topped small tree a stately appearance. As spring progresses the leaves change from that pink cast to bright red, then orange red all the time putting on a show. In cooler climates the colors last well into the summer before eventually turning first bronze and then green this happens quite early if you live in a hotter climate. In fall the show begins again with wonderful shades of red, orange and sometimes even yellow. The name comes from the Muro river in Japan. 10 Tear size:  Height: 8-10 Feet Width: 8-10 Feet

This may very well be the most heat tolerant of the shirasawanum varieties. The large luxurious green leaves are more deeply cut than many shirasawanum varieties and are quite sun tolerant in all but the hottest climates. 'Palmatifolium' is quite vigorous and forms a strong, sturdy upright tree becoming more rounded and wider with age. Most of all, the fall color is a dazzling array of orange, red and yellow tones. 10 Year Size: Height:  10-12 Feet    Width:  8-10 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