In its native Japan, the Japanese maple prefers to grow in the rather cold mountainous climate of the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu. It is also traditionally grown there as a bonsai. Acer palmatum has been very popular with us for several years as a small ornamental tree or shrub in the garden or in tubs. For many varieties, the right location is primarily responsible for the intense autumn colors.
Most Japanese maple varieties prefer a sunny location
Not every Japanese maple tolerates the sun
As a rule, the Japanese maple prefers a sunny to semi-shady location with plenty of light - the lighter the spot, the more intense the color of the foliage. However, this rule does not apply to all varieties, because some Japanese maples need a lot of sun, while others are more sensitive and are therefore best kept in light partial shade - especially with sufficient protection from the midday sun. Red Japanese maple is usually one of the sun worshipers.
A suitable location for each variety
In the table below we have put together the best locations for some of the most popular Japanese maple varieties.
| variety | location | floor |
|---|---|---|
| Arakawa | sunny to semi-shady | permeable, nutritious |
| Osakazuki | sunny | permeable garden soil |
| Katsura | sunny | permeable, nutritious |
| Beni komachi | sunny | permeable garden soil |
| Bloodgood | sunny to semi-shady | normal garden soil |
| orangeola | sunny | permeable garden soil |
| Kotohime | sunny | permeable garden soil |
| butterfly | sunny | permeable garden soil |
| Shishigashira | sunny | permeable garden soil |
| Green Globe | sunny | permeable garden soil |
| Ki hachijo | sunny | permeable garden soil |
| Okushimo | sunny | permeable garden soil |
| Oridono nishiki | sunny | permeable garden soil |
| Red Star | sunny | permeable garden soil |
| Kagiri nishiki | sunny | permeable garden soil |
Soil must be permeable and rich in nutrients
Be sure to use the right substrate, which must be as permeable as possible - Japanese maple does not tolerate waterlogging - and be rich in nutrients. At best, the slightly moist soil is sandy to loamy-humic and has a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Too hard substrate can be improved with sand or peat.
tips
Also make sure that the location is protected from the wind, especially for solitaires.