Upright Japanese Maples

Acer palmatum 'Kara su gawa' is a Japanese maple with intense variegation splashed all over the foliage of the tree. This variegation includes bright pinks and creamy white colors that look fantastic splashed on the green leaves. Fall color is a fantastic orange color. 10 Year Size: Height: 8-10 feet   Width: 4-6 feet

We find 'Matsugae' to be a very dependable variegated cultivar in the southeast. In spring it opens with cream and rose markings along its irregular shaped medium green leaves. In summer the rose color fades away and the cream turns pure white leaving beautifully contrasting variegation all summer long. Red petioles also add to the overall appearance of 'Matsugae'. This is a very old cultivar with a name that means 'the pine branch' which is hard to understand for a variegated cultivar. This plant is similar to 'Kagiri nishiki' but is faster growing and has better variegation. Fall color is usually orange. 10 year size:  Height: 8-10 Feet   Width: 10-12 Feet

Acer palmatum ‘Kaga kujaku’ is an upright growing Japanese maple with deeply divided leaves. The leaves emerge a bright pinkish red early in spring. These leaves then quickly transition to an attractive green that maintains throughout the summer. ‘Kaga kujaku’ then changes to orange-red in the fall. ‘Kaga kujaku’ is a fairly fast growing tree that will reach about 10 feet tall at maturity.10 Year Size: Height: 8-10 feet Width: 4-6 feet

Acer palmatum 'Beni ubi gohon' is known not only for being small in stature but also for having small red leaves that are more narrow  at the base and tip but wider in the middle. The nice wine-red color holds into summer before tuning green and tolerates sun well in all but the hottest climates. Appropriately named 'Beni ubi gohon' means five long red fingers.   Fall color is crimson. Height:  6-8 feet    Width:  3-4 feet

Unfortunately, there are two trees grown with the name 'Chitose yama'. One named in England, and selected from the Exbury gardens around 1990 and this one, the original Japanese clone, dating back to at least 1882 in Japan. Like the Exbury version, the name refers to the mountains near the town of Chitose on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The new leaves appear a soft brick red in early spring but become darker red in a sunny location. In summer leaves first go bronze and then olive green. this happens more quickly in hot climates. 'Chitose yama' becomes a large almost prostrate or even gently cascading shrub usually wider than tall. Fall color is a predictable bright red and a great edition to any landscape.10 Year Size:  Height 6-8 Feet Width 8-10 Feet

Acer palmatum ‘Koko’ is a short shrubby tree with a uniquely large, deeply divided leaf. These leaves emerge a bright red, almost pink in spring. This color darkens to a burgundy for the rest of the summer. Fall color is an outstanding yellow to orange to red. 10 Year Size: Height: 4-6 feet Width: 3-5 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Mizu kuguri’ leafs out with large bright golden yellow leaves in the spring. These colorful leaves will darken to a more traditional green color in the summer. Fall color will be yellow to orange. ‘Mizu kuguri’ is a small to medium growing upright Japanese maple that really shouldn’t get much taller than 10 feet at maturity.10 Year Size: Height: 8-10 feet Width: 4-6 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Riley’ is a great red upright with dark burgundy foliage that holds well through the summer even in hotter climates. ‘Riley’ isn’t a large growing Japanese maple and handles the sun very well. 10 Year Size: Height: 10-12 feet Width: 6-8 feet

'Red Pygmy' may not be the best named linearilobum but it is one of the best all around Japanese Maples. Although slower growing than some of the vigorous forms of  linearilobum, 'Red Pygmy' can attain heights of more than 15 feet with age. While it comes out red in spring and may hold color into the summer in some areas, 'Red Pygmy' quickly turns green as temperatures begin to rise in hot climates. The green is a dark rich green throughout the summer then as a startling contrast this plant will turn bright yellow or gold in fall. 'Red Pygmy ' leaves have some of the narrowest lobes of the red linearilobums often having an interesting twist in the lobe. 'Red Pygmy' tolerates sun well.  The changes in color and the very graceful shape make this a must have plant for collectors and occasional gardeners alike.10 year size:  Height: 5-7 Feet   Width: 3-5 FeetSpring Color: RedSummer Color: GreenFall Color: YellowSun Tolerance: PartialPlanting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum 'Cecilia' is a red Japanese maple with deeply divided leaves. 'Cecilia' was found as a chance seedling from 'Tamukeyama' and shares many of the color characteristics with its parent plant. The leaves of 'Cecilia' are dark red becoming bright red in the fall. The dark red color and leaf shape of 'Cecilia' give it contrast and differentiation from other red Japanese maple varieties. 'Cecilia' should grow well and hold its color even in hotter sunnier climates. 'Cecilia' is a moderately growing upright Japanese maple that should mature into a very attractive small to medium sized tree perfect for nearly any yard.  10 Year Size: Height: 6-8 feet   Width: 4-6 feet 

Acer palmatum 'Milky Way' is a unique variegated Japanese maple with uniquely shaped leaves and subtle variegation to the edges of the leaves. Variegation ranges from creamy white to yellow to even pink. Fall color is a brilliant orange to red.  10 Year Size: Height: 6-8 feet   Width: 4-6 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Tsuma gaki’ is the famous "Red Fingernails" Japanese maple gets this name from the bright red tips on the light green almost yellow newly emerging leaves. This color persists throughout the spring fading to a nice dark green by summer. Fall color is bright red. 'Tsuma gaki' performs best in partial shade and over time grows into a small round tree.10 Year size:  Height: 5-7 Feet Width: 4-6 FeetSpring Color: Green with Red TipsSummer Color: GreenFall Color: OrangeSun Tolerance: PartialPlanting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Yellow new leaves with red margins typify this 'Katsura' like small tree in early spring making the plant appear orange. By early summer the red edge fades but the yellow leaves hold on into summer longer than most trees of this type. By mid-summer the leaves have finally given in to the summers heat and changed to a nice shade of light green. Fall color is an interesting mix of red, yellow and orange. Very vigorous when young 'Calico' matures into a small broadly upright dense tree.10 year size Height:  Height: 6-8 Feet   Width: 4-6 Feet

Acer palmatum ‘Beni komachi’ is one of the most unique Japanese maples in existence. The name means red beautiful little girl, and aptly describes this attractive maple. Emerging foliage in spring is red but turns to a dark purple fairly quick. As the summer heat approaches the small crinkled leaves turn a very nice dark green but remain edged in purple giving this plant one of the most unique textures in the garden. 'Beni komachi' is slow growing but will eventually grow into a small tree. Fast growing stems with large atypical leaves should be removed. 'Beni komachi' prefers to be protected from afternoon sun in hot climates. 10 year size:   Height: 5-7 Feet   Width: 3-4 Feet