Ten Japanese Maples for Landscape Success

10 Japanese Maples

for Landscape Success

By Heather Prince

We love the layered grace or the del-

catwaterfall of lacy foliage that Japanese maples bring to our landscapes. From the elegant horizontal branching and deep burgundy foliage of a Bloodgood to the spill of finely cut foliage and fiery fall color of Tamukeyama, these trees bring a refinement to our garden spaces and can delight us for many years.

This winter was a true test of siting these sensitive trees and many were lost to cold temperatures and harsh winds. Will we see these difficult winter conditions again? Perhaps. We talked to Tim Gruner, Garden Curator & Head of Horticulture at Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford about his recommendations for siting, care, and cultivar choices. Japanese Maple ‘Orion’ Rockford saw -31 degrees at its coldest, so in many ways, it was a true test of temperature tolerances of landscape plants.

The most important factor when siting a Japanese maple is winter wind. “I’ve found that you can push their sun tolerance if they are in a protected area,” reported Gruner. The majority of our winter winds in the Midwest come out of the north and northwest. Remember those Alberta Clippers? Japanese maples have a delicate twig and thin bark. They can easily desiccate in the onslaught of winter winds. Paper tree wrap can make a big difference on trunks to prevent frost cracking. The best spot for a Japanese maple is usually the east where it can get the gentle morning sun and if tucked against a building or fence, or with other plantings, protection from wind.

When planting Japanese maples, decent drainage is appreciated. “We have such a mishmash of soils at Anderson between areas that were filled in when they dug the ponds to native soils with a nice clay-loam balance,” commented Gruner. “When we create a new garden area in a challenging spot, we will often bring in high grade soil.” Soil alkalinity isn’t typically an issue with this type of maple, but their longterm health will be challenged in a heavy, wet, clay soil. When planting consider, “Planting a little high so that the crown drains off makes a big difference,” recom-

mends Gruner.

Once you know your site and your soil, it’s time to find a cultivar that suits your space and design goals. There are thousands of kinds of Japanese maples, but here are 10 that offer a mix of textures, colors, and sizes, are readily available, and are zone 5 hardy. In general, Japanese maples are slow growing, although the larger cultivars can be a little quicker. When choosing a Japanese maple, make sure it is listed to your zone’s hardiness.

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Fernleaf Fullmoon Maple

Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ Height: 8 to 10 ft Width: 8 to 10 ft Foliage: apple green ferny leaves deeply divided into toothed and cut lobes Fall color: rich crimson with tones of orange Notes: Aconitifolium was previously called ‘Maiku jaku’, which means dancing peacock and one look at its elegant textured foliage, you can see why. It has a rounded to mounded form that can be easily trained to be very sculptural. Purplered flowers bloom in the spring and lead to deep red samaras which can be particularly attractive when closely observed. “These perform very well for us in the gardens and we only lost a few branches this winter,” commented Gruner.

Bloodgood Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ Height: 20 to 25 ft Width: 15 to 25 ft Foliage: deep burgundy wine in color with a broader lobed leaf Fall color: crimson-red Notes: Bloodgood has been a solid staple Japanese maple in the Midwest for decades. It has proven to be a touch hardier than other cultivars and very popular. The beautiful burgundy leaves will turn a bronze-green in the high heat of summer before putting on its stunning autumn show. It features a dark purple winter twig. Bloodgood tends to have an upright oval to vase habit and is probably one of the largest in ultimate size available.

Burgundy Lace Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Burgundy Lace’ Height: 10 to 12 ft Width: 10 to 12 ft Foliage: burgundy-red leaves with narrow, serrated, deeplycut lobes Fall color: scarlet red Notes: Burgundy Lace offers a nice mid-sized maple with a bit more delicacy in the leaves than Bloodgood. With a rounded to spreading habit, it can easily be a focal point in a corner. The leaves hold their color in summer heat a bit better, but will have a period of bronze-green before turning bright red in fall.

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(continued from page 18) Fireglow Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Fireglow’ Height: 10 to 12 ft Width:10 to 12 ft Foliage: broader, lobed leaves with bright cherry red new growth that darkens to burgundy Fall color: crimson red Notes: Fireglow offers a smaller-sized tree with similar texture to Bloodgood but with a more cherry red cast to the new growth. Its foliage holds its burgundy color better in summer heat than other similar maples. Vase-shaped to broadly oval in its habit.

Katsura Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Katsura’ Height: 10 to 12 ft Width: 10 to 12 ft Foliage: small, five-lobed leaves emerge peach with red edges in spring before maturing to bright green Fall color: yellow and orange Notes: Vase-shaped to upright in youth, Katsura will broaden to oval with age if allowed. The spring growth on this cultivar sets it apart and lights the landscape. With chartreuse summer foliage, it can easily be a focal point for a shady nook or a specimen under larger trees.

Oregon Sunset Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Oregon Sunset’ Height: 3 to 4 ft Width: 3 to 4 ft Foliage: narrow lobed leaves with fine serration in tones of red and burgundy. New growth is a subtle deep orange. Fall color: sunset red Notes: Oregon Sunset has a compact, rounded habit with lots of dimension in the foliage colors. Its short, shrubby habit make it easy to tuck into a landscape. Place it where it will get the attention the dynamic foliage deserves.

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Tamukeyama Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Tamukeyama’ Height: 6 to 8 ft Width: 8 to 12 ft Foliage: finely dissected leaves are deep burgundy Fall color: burgundy red Notes: A mounding, weeping finely textured maple that is usually grafted low to keep a soft, dome-like shape. Make sure to site with winter protection in mind, but it can be a graceful addition to any landscape.

Trompenburg Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Trompenburg’ Height: 12 to 15 ft Width: 10 to 15 ft Foliage: deeply cut, sharply serrate dark burgundy leaves that roll slightly at the edges Fall color: crimson red Notes: Vase-shaped to rounded in habit, Trompenburg holds its rich burgundy color throughout summer’s heat. “Every one of these survived this winter with very little damage,” reported Gruner. With a nifty pink winter twig, this cultivar seems to be among the hardiest.

Waterfall Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Waterfall’) Height: 6 to 8 ft Width: 8 to 10 ft Foliage: finely dissected delicate dark green leaves Fall color: golden with streaks of orange and red Notes: A lovely weeping cultivar that offers graceful fine texture in tones of green before putting on a fiery autumn show. It makes a fine specimen, particularly when paired with a water feature.