10 types of Japanese maple

Acer palmatum 'Ornatum'

Acer palmatum 'Ornatum'

El japanese maple has a quality that makes it unique: is able to amaze anyone at any time of the year. It becomes beautiful during the spring, when its leaves sprout covering its branches with color; in summer it explodes with life, becoming even more beautiful if possible; in autumn it is quite a spectacle, when putting on its autumn dress, and in winter, we can contemplate its trunk and its extended branches. It is one of the most successful plants, not only for its beauty, but also for its easy cultivation and maintenance.

It is not surprising that new cultivars emerge from time to time, causing more than one and more than two to want to acquire them even though we know that the climate we have where we live is not the most suitable. By the way, Do you know how many types of Japanese maple there are? I'll tell you: many. Only of cultivars it is estimated that there are more than a thousand. You will be able to see ten of them below.

Acer palmatum

Is the type species which is called, that is, the one botanists look at when they discover what they suspect could be another variety. It is known as webbed Japanese maple, Japanese maple, or polymorphic maple, and is native to Japan, Korea, and China.

It is characterized by having 5 to 9-lobed webbed leaves that turn red in fall. The tree reaches a height of between 6 and 10 meters.

Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'

This variety is one of the most loved. Known as the red Japanese maple, or the red webbed maple, it has the same characteristics as the Acer palmatum normal, but with one important difference: its leaves are purple practically all year round. In summer you will see that they become more greenish, but it will not be a pure green, but rather a reddish green.

Acer palmatum 'Beni Maiko'

The 'Beni Maiko' is a cultivar that since I discovered it I have fallen in love with it. Is incredible. As an adult it looks like a red maple (Acer) but of a brighter red color. Being grafted, we can be sure that its height will not exceed 5 meters. The leaves are quite reminiscent of the Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'although they are slightly smaller, at least when young.

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'

The 'Bloodgood' is a precious cultivar no, the following. It is very similar to 'Atropurpureum', but reaches a lower height (about 4-5 meters), and its leaves turn a much more intense purple-red color. During the summer it is still red. In addition, it is somewhat better adapted to areas that have a warm Mediterranean climate, with mild autumns and winters with very weak frosts.

Acer palmatum 'Deshojo'

The 'Deshojo' is a variety of Japanese maple that reaches a height of 6-7 meters and that has a fairly fast growth rate (about 20cm per year if conditions are good). Same as him Acer palmatum normal during much of the year the leaves are green, but during the fall they turn red.

Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki'

The 'Osakazuki' is a tree that reaches 7-8 meters in height, which has webbed leaves that turn red during fall. Like the 'Seiryu' it is able to withstand a couple of hours of direct sunlight, even if it lives in an area where temperatures exceed 30ºC during the summer.

Acer palmatum 'Senkaki'

The 'Senkaki' or 'Sango Kaku' is one of the most ornamental Japanese maples. Its branches have an intense red color, which is why it is known in English as Coral Bark Maple, which translated into Spanish would be something like coral bark maple.

It reaches a height of 4-5 meters, and has green, webbed leaves that turn yellow during fall.

Acer palmatum var. Dissectum 'Seiryu'

The 'Seyriu' is one of the favorite cultivars of those who live in mild climates. The reason? Can withstand a few hours of direct sunlight (as long as it is during the early morning or afternoon), and it is a plant that can turn a patio into an incredible garden since it is a tree that reaches 5 meters in height and its branches reach 2 meters in length. . Unlike the Japanese maples we've seen so far, the leaves are webbed but much more divided.

During spring and summer they are a very vivid green color, but during the fall they turn a shade of dark red Really beautiful.

Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium'

The 'Aconitifolium' is a very Japanese maple, as Andalusians would say, "funny". It is a small tree that grows up to 5-6 meters in height, with leaves very similar to 'Seyriu' but with slightly wider lobes. It is a plant that looks great in any corner, and that It can be enjoyed all year round, but especially in autumn when its leaves turn a spectacular bright red..

Acer japonicum 'Vitifolium'

The 'Vitifolium' is a tree that has large, webbed leaves, up to 15cm wide by 6-7cm high. It reaches a height of 7 meters. It is a very interesting variety, since dresses orange-red during fall.

What do you think of these varieties and cultivars? Do you have any? If you want to know how to take care of it, watch this video:


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  1.   Karla said

    Hello, I would like to know when and how a Japanese maple is pruned. I have had one for several years and it has not grown much. If it is beautiful and its leaves are wonderful but it seems to me that it is a bit slow growing. Thanks

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Karla.
      The Japanese maple is a slow growing plant.
      Anyway, you can prune it at the end of winter. Here explains how to do it.
      A greeting.

  2.   martha said

    Hello, good afternoon, I have an Acer palmatum Bloodgood but I have it directly in the sun, I have no other place to put it, that affects you a lot or how can I help you, thank you

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hi Martha.
      The Japanese maple must be protected from the sun, otherwise the leaves will burn and the plant could die.
      I recommend protecting it with a shading mesh, placed as an umbrella / parasol.
      A greeting.

  3.   ludy said

    Wonderful.

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      We are glad you liked it, Ludy 🙂

  4.   Alba said

    Hi there! I have one that has grown tall but produces very few leaves and they no longer turn red (the same happens to the virgin vine that is in the same yard). How can I reverse that?
    Thank you very much.

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello alba.
      For a deciduous plant to turn red, yellow, ... or another autumnal color 🙂, it is necessary that the temperatures drop as the summer ends, and that they also water little, just enough so that they do not go thirsty.

      The subscriber has to be suspended also at the end of the summer.

      On the other hand, both Japanese maple and virgin vine need protection from direct sun, especially maple, which also requires soil and irrigation water without any lime.

      If you have doubts, in these links you have more information about your care: japanese maple y virgin vine.

      Regards!

  5.   nuria bonfill picañol said

    Hello I wanted to put it but where I live the temperature in winter drops to minus 5 or 6. I can put it

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Nuria.

      Yes, no problems. It resists cold and frost well, but not heat.

      Regards!

  6.   Fadlo tayah said

    Hello, how do you sow once with the seeds?

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hi Fadlo.

      Japanese maple seeds need to be cold for about 3 months before they can germinate, therefore, they must be stratified in the refrigerator that time. Here we explain how it is done.

      Greetings.

  7.   Elsa Market said

    Hello, I live in Córdoba, Argentina. I just planted an atropurpureum in a corner of my little yard. I have little depth of soil since I live on a mountain slope, I want to know what type of fertilizer I should use, what the plant requires, irrigation, etc, etc. Thanks!

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hi Elsa.

      Great that you have decided on the Japanese maple 'Atropurpureum'. In this article we talk about their care.

      Greetings, and enjoy it!

  8.   Hugo bentancur said

    I really liked the article, I would like to see information about the acer negundo, thank you

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Hugo.
      Thank you very much.

      About the Acer negundo, here have we talked about their pests and diseases. We have to do your file carefully. Any questions you tell us.

      Greetings.