Typically, the Japanese maple - regardless of whether it is green or red - has filigree, hand-shaped leaves that can be lobed or very heavily slit. In autumn, the rather small, shrub-like growing exotic shows an impressive autumn color. In this profile you will learn more about the fascinating ornamental tree.

The Japanese maple inspires with its beautiful autumn colors

The Japanese maple - the most important information at a glance

  • Botanical name: Acer palmatum
  • Genus: Maples (Acer)
  • Family: Soapberry family (Sapindaceae)
  • Origin and distribution: Japan, China, Korea
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Soil: fresh humus or sandy soil, slightly acidic to neutral
  • Growth: broad bushy shrub or small tree
  • Growth height: up to 15 meters in its homeland, significantly smaller here
  • Flowering and flowering period: red flower clusters between May and June
  • Fruit: winged nutlets arranged in pairs
  • Foliage: depending on the variety, green or red
  • Autumn colour: intense red to orange-red (depending on the sunlight)
  • Propagation: cuttings
  • Hardiness: hardy
  • Toxicity: no
  • Use: ornamental plant in garden or container
  • Similar species: Japanese maple (Acer japonicum), golden maple (Acer shirasawanum)

Filigree Japanese maple fits in (almost) every garden

The Japanese maple has pretty, up to 20 centimeters long, deeply slit or lobed leaves, which - depending on the variety - are either green or red. Red Japanese maple, the 'Atropurpureum' variety is particularly popular, inspires in summer with picturesque bronze-purple leaves, the coloring of which turns into a rich red in autumn. Among the green varieties, on the other hand, 'Ozakazuki' is particularly popular. The rather slow-growing trees reach a height of up to three or four meters in our region, although various dwarf varieties are also commercially available. The latter in particular are wonderfully suited for a bucket culture. Depending on the sunlight, the deciduous (or red) leaves turn bright orange to deep red in autumn.

Japanese maple for every taste

The Japanese maple is sometimes also available from the gardener under the name 'slotted maple', although this is also Acer palmatum. However, there are other Japanese maples that are very similar to Japanese maple. These include the Japanese maple (Acer japonicum), which is native to the mountains of Hokkaido and Honshu, and the very rare golden maple (Acer shirasawanum). In this country, these three species are often grouped together under the generic term "Japanese maple".

tips

The Japanese maple traditionally heralds autumn in Japan, and it is also very commonly used in the ancient art of bonsai.

Category:

Trees