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16 Different Types of Japanese Maple Trees & Their Identifying Features (With Photos)

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Written By Lyrae Willis

Environmental Scientist & Plant Ecologist

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Home » Tree Types » 16 Different Types of Japanese Maple Trees & Their Identifying Features (With Photos)

When most of us think of Japanese Maples, we picture an Acer palmatum cultivar, a small, delicate-looking tree with red or purple leaves. And you’re not wrong, but there are more Japanese Maples that many of us are unaware of.

All maples, including Japanese Maples, are of the Acer genus in the Sapindaceae family. Acer has about 130 accepted species worldwide, mostly native to Asia.

There is not one Japanese Maple. In fact, 24 species of maples are native to Japan. For comparison, only 10 currently accepted species are native to all of North America.

Maples have been cultivated ornamentally in Japan for centuries. Acer palmatum alone has hundreds of cultivars with a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors to choose from.

Let’s look at some of the different types of Japanese Maple trees, including four different species and their cultivars, and learn how to identify them.

Contents show

Exploring Varieties – 16 Types of Japanese Maple Trees and Their Distinctive Features

A. Cultivars of Acer palmatum

Acer palmatum has the most cultivars of all Japanese Maples, at least if you include the ‘dissectum’ and ‘atropurpureum’ variants that we have split out below (see sections B and C below).

It has been under cultivation for longer than any other type of Japanese Maple.

1. Emperor Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘Wolff EMPEROR 1®’

Emperor Japanese Maple - Grid 2 Square
Images via Fast-Growing-Trees – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize

Emperor Japanese Maple is one of the more well-known cultivars known for its strength and vigorous growth, as well as its bright crimson red leaves.

It is a low-maintenance tree with an upright growth habit and only grows to 15 ft tall. This makes it large enough to be suitable as a street tree or a specimen tree for the yard or garden but also compact enough to fit into all but the smallest landscapes.

Best grown in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained sandy loams in full sun to part shade.

Avoid sites that are too hot or dry in the summer. If you live in a region with hot summers, mulch around the root zone to retain moisture and keep the roots cool.

Planting this maple tree is a great way to make your house look more expensive.

Identifying Features of the Emperor Japanese Maple

Emperor Japanese Maple is a small tree growing to 15 ft tall and as wide.

It has attractive dark purple-red leaves in spring, and they turn scarlet red in the fall.

Leaves have 5 – 7 lobes divided about ¾ of the way to the leaf base.

Lobes are more or less elliptical, broadest in the middle, and have very long acuminate tips.

Leaf margins are regularly to finely serrated with small teeth.

Other Common Names: Japanese Maple, Emperor I Japanese Maple

Origin: Dick Wolf of Red Maple Nurseries in Media, PA.

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 8

Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 15 ft tall, 10 – 15 ft spread

Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills

2. Butterfly Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’

Butterfly Maple
Image via Mr. Maple

Butterfly Japanese Maple is a very common variegated cultivar of Acer palmatum.

It is a small tree, growing to 12 ft tall and about ⅔ as wide, with an irregular habit.

Its green and white variegated leaves have a unique twist to the usual flat form of most Japanese Maple leaves.

Its unique leaves make it popular for use in bonsai.

In the fall, the white parts on the leaves turn magenta or red for great fall color.

Best grown in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained sandy loams in part shade to full sun, depending on the site. Avoid hot or dry sites in the summer.

Mulch to retain moisture and keep the roots cool.

This tree received the Award of Merit in 1977 from the Boskoop Horticultural Society, not long after it was commercially released for sale.

Identifying Features of the Butterfly Japanese Maple

Butterfly Japanese Maple is an upright, shrub or small tree that grows to 12 ft tall.

Leaves are palmate, 5-lobed, very deeply divided (nearly to the petiole), to 3” long, often twisted, especially at their acuminate tips, rather than laying flat or symmetrical.

Leaf margins are coarsely serrated-dentate with large teeth that are sometimes large enough to be considered lobules.

Leaves are variegated in gray-green with creamy white margins that are often pink-edged in the spring. The white portions of the leaves turn scarlet or magenta in the fall.

Flowers are small and an attractive reddish-purple, but not showy from a distance.

Samaras ripen in early fall.

Other Common Names: Japanese Maple

Origin: Discovered in Japan around 1938 at Koichiro Wada Nursery and introduced to Europe in the 1970s.

USDA Growing Zones: 6 – 8

Average Size at Maturity: 7 – 12 ft tall, 4 – 8 ft spread

3. Beni Kawa Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘Beni-kawa’

Beni Kawa Japanese Maple Tree
Image by Mr. Maple

Beni Kawa is one of the Acer palmatum cultivars made popular for its bright red bark.

It is a small tree with an upright vase-shaped form growing to about 15 ft tall when fully mature, but it is a slow grower and does not grow past about 7 ft until it is at least 10 years old.

It has soft, light green leaves that turn golden yellow with orange-red margins before turning orange in the fall.

Best grown in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained sandy loams.

If summers are very hot, it is best grown in part shade and mulched to retain moisture and leaf color. However, too much shade will cost in terms of loss of bark color, so a good balance is needed.

In the cooler climates in its range, it can easily be grown in full sun but would still benefit from some root zone mulching.

Identifying Features of the Beni Kawa Japanese Maple

Beni Kawa Japanese Maple has an upright, rounded, shrubby habit.

It has bright salmon-red bark on its trunk and stems, similar to Coral Bark Maple but an even brighter red.

Leaves are palmately 5 – 7-lobed, divided about ¾ of the way to the base, to 2.5” long, with ovate-lanceolate lobes that are widest near the base, with long-acuminate tips.

Leaf margins are doubly serrated.

Leaves are a soft light green but turn golden yellow with orange-red margins in the fall.

Flowers are small but have an attractive reddish color when viewed close-up.

Other Common Names: Japanese Maple, Coral Bark Maple, Red Bark Japanese Maple

Origin: Introduced by Greer Gardens in Oregon in 1987.

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9

Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 15 ft tall, 12 – 15 ft spread

4. Coral Bark Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’

 Coral Bark Japanese Maple
Images via Fast-Growing-Trees – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize

Coral Bark Maple is large for a Japanese Maple, growing slowly to eventually reach 25 ft tall and not quite as wide.

It is large enough to be a street, park, or specimen tree but still compact enough to fit in most yards.

It has bright red bark that provides year-round interest in the landscape and contrasts nicely with its vibrant color-changing leaves.

Leaves emerge yellow-green with reddish-pink tinges on the tips, then become a vibrant medium to almost neon green by summer and finally become yellow, rusty orange, and fiery red in the fall.

Best grown in partial shade in a location where its fall and winter color can be fully appreciated.

It will tolerate full sun in the cooler climates in its range.

It prefers moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained loams. Mulch as necessary to retain moisture and keep the roots cool.

Identifying Features of the Coral Bark Japanese Maple

Coral Bark Japanese Maple is a slow-growing, upright, vase-shaped tree that grows to 25 ft tall.

The bark is showy pink or pinkish-red but may fade in the summer; it is brightest on twigs and branches.

Leaves are palmately 5 – 7-lobed and up to 2” long. They emerge yellow-green with reddish margins in the spring, turn to light green in summer, then golden yellow in the fall.

Leaf margins are serrated. Leaflets are more or less elliptical in shape, widest in the middle, and narrow to long-acuminate tips.

Flowers are small and reddish-purple, followed by samaras that ripen in late summer or early fall.

Other Common Names: Japanese Maple, Senkaki Japanese Maple

Origin: Origin unknown; an older cultivar from the 1800s.

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 8

Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 25 ft tall, 15 – 20 ft spread

Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills

B. Cultivars of Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’

Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’ is often recorded as Acer palmatum var. dissectum, but plant authorities say that it is a synonym of Acer palmatum.

Here we will refer to it as Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’ to acknowledge its differences (deeply dissected leaves) even if botanical authorities do not.

Gardeners typically refer to these as the “lace-leaf” or “thread-leaf” Japanese Maples.

5. Garnet Laceleaf Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’ ‘Garnet’

Garnet Laceleaf Japanese Maple
Image by Mr. Maple

Garnet Laceleaf Japanese Maple has red, deeply divided, lacy leaves that remain reddish-orange (the color of garnet gemstones) throughout the growing season until late summer, when it fades to purplish-green before turning bright red in fall.

It is a large shrub to small tree, usually growing to 9 ft, or sometimes up to 12 ft tall. Its compact size makes it suitable as a specimen tree for most gardens.

Best grown in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained sandy loams.

Best grown in partial shade to full sun, depending on the climate. Avoid sites that are excessively hot or dry in the summer, and mulch to retain moisture and keep the roots cool.

Identifying Features of the Garnet Japanese Maple

Garnet Laceleaf Japanese Maple is a medium-sized upright pendulous mounding shrub to a small tree.

Leaves are deeply divided almost to the petiole, 7 – 9-lobed, with lobes that are themselves deeply divided into lobules that become teeth towards their long-acuminate tips. Lobe bases are narrowly cuneate (wedge-shaped).

Leaves emerge red-orange until mid-summer, when they turn a purplish-green before turning red in the fall.

Samaras are small and purple in the spring.

Other Common Names: Japanese Maple, Garnet Japanese Maple

Origin: Cultivar from the Netherlands

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 8

Average Size at Maturity: 6 – 9 ft (to 12 ft) tall, 8 – 12 ft spread

Available at: Nature Hills

6. Red Dragon Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’ ‘Red Dragon’

Red Dragon Japanese Maple - Grid 2 Square

Images via Fast-Growing-Trees – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize

Red Dragon Japanese Maple is a small cultivar with showy leaves that emerge ruby red in the spring and become a rich burgundy for summer, and finally, turn a bright crimson red in the fall.

They retain their leaf color well throughout the growing season.

The deeply divided leaves are said to resemble the claws of a dragon, giving it its name.

Its small size and upright, pendulous habit make it a great mounding specimen shrub for any sized landscape.

Its small size also makes it adaptable to growing as a potted shrub for patio growing.

Best grown in partial shade to retain the best color. Full sun is fine in the cooler climates in its range.

Best grown in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained sandy loams.

Avoid hot or dry sites and mulch to retain moisture and keep the roots cool.

Identifying Features of the Red Dragon Japanese Maple

Red Dragon Japanese Maple is a compact, slow-growing, upright pendulous mounding shrub that usually grows to 8 ft tall.

It has 7-lobed leaves that are deeply divided nearly all the way to the petiole.

Leaf lobes are also deeply divided, with numerous lobules and teeth, with all margins being serrated. Overall lobe shape is narrowly elliptical with narrowly cuneate bases and long-acuminate tips.

Leaves emerge bright ruby red in spring, mature to burgundy in summer, and change to crimson red in the fall.

Leaf petioles are purple.

Other Common Names: Japanese Maple

Origin: Cultivar from New Zealand

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 8

Average Size at Maturity: 6 – 8 ft (to 12 ft) tall, 6 – 8 ft spread

Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills

7. Crimson Queen Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’ ‘Crimson Queen’

Crimson Queen Japanese Maple - Grid 2 Square
Images via Fast-Growing-Trees and Nature Hills – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize

Crimson Queen Japanese Maple is a medium-sized specimen shrub with a weeping habit reaching 10 ft tall and a little wider than tall.

It’s elegantly cascading, deeply dissected leaves are dark red in the summer and turn crimson red before turning yellow, red, purple, and bronze in the fall.

Their compact size makes them suitable for most landscapes. It is often used as a small privacy tree around patios, as a specimen tree in a small landscape, or as a filler between larger trees in a larger landscape.

It prefers full sun and well-drained, rich, sandy loams with a nice thick layer of mulch around the root zone.

In areas with hot summers, partial shade may be best to preserve vibrant leaf colors.

Identifying Features of the Crimson Queen Japanese Maple

Crimson Queen Japanese Maple is a medium-sized weeping shrub that grows to 10 ft tall and spreads a little wider than it grows tall.

Its leaves are dark red in the summer and turn crimson red before turning yellow, red, purple, and bronze in the fall.

Leaves are deeply divided nearly all the way to the petiole, with elliptic lobes that are wider in the middle but narrow to a narrowly cuneate base and long-acuminate tip. Lobes are themselves divided into lobules, and all margins have serrated teeth.

Flowers appear in spring and are small and reddish, followed by samaras in late summer.

Other Common Names: Japanese Maple

Origin: Cultivar from the USA

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 8

Average Size at Maturity: 8 – 10 ft tall, 10 – 12 ft spread

Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills

8. Waterfall Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’ ‘Waterfall’

Waterfall Japanese Maple - Grid 2 Square
Images via Fast-Growing-Trees – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize

The Waterfall Japanese Maple is different from most other dissectum cultivars in having bright green, finely-textured feather-like leaves instead of the more common various red shades.

It grows as a medium-sized shrub with a rounded, weeping form and pendulous branches and leaves.

Its bright green leaves turn brilliant shades of golden-yellow, bronze, and vibrant reds and oranges for a stunning fall color display.

In the winter, its cascading branches provide winter interest.

In the northern, cooler climates in its range, it grows best in full sun, while in the warmer temperate climates in the southern end of its range, it does best with afternoon shade.

Mulch around the root zone to retain moisture and keep the roots cool.

It makes a lovely specimen tree for any size yard and is especially popular for planting near water features.

It is also popular with bonsai enthusiasts.

Identifying Features of the Waterfall Japanese Maple

Waterfall Japanese Maple is a medium-sized weeping shrub up to 12 ft tall and wide with pendulous branches.

Leaves are palmately 7 – 9-lobed and deeply dissected as far as possible without becoming a compound leaf.

Leaf lobes are very narrow and lace-like and deeply dissected themselves into lobules and large teeth; margins are serrated.

Leaves are bright green throughout the growing season and turn golden-yellow in the fall with streaks of red, bronze, and orange.

It is similar in appearance to the Weeping Japanese Maple, but Waterfall has slightly longer leaves with more reds and yellows in its fall color.

Other Common Names: Japanese Maple

Origin: Unknown

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9

Average Size at Maturity: 6 – 12 ft tall, 8 – 12 ft spread

Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills

9. Weeping Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’ ‘Viridis’

Weeping Japanese Maple - Grid 2 Square

Images via Fast-Growing-Trees – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize

Weeping Japanese Maple has deeply dissected, wispy, green leaves that transform in fall into a series of golden yellows, oranges, and dark reds.

In the winter, its weeping branches add interest to the landscape.

It is a low-maintenance shrub that can thrive for 60 years or more with little effort if it is planted in the right location.

Its small size (up to 8 ft tall) makes it suitable for small gardens.

In areas with hot summers, it is best grown in partial shade to preserve color, but it will tolerate full sun in cooler climates.

Best grown in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained sandy loams.

Mulch to retain moisture and keep the root zone cool.

Identifying Features of the Weeping Japanese Maple

The Weeping Japanese Maple is a medium-sized shrub to 8 ft tall with a broadly rounded, weeping habit and ascending to pendulous branches with pendulous twigs and leaves.

It has deeply divided bright green leaves divided nearly to the petiole with very narrow lobes with lobules and sharply serrated teeth.

Leaves change from bright green to golden yellow, orange, and red in the fall.

Other Common Names: Japanese Maple

Origin: Unknown

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 8

Average Size at Maturity: 6 – 8 ft tall, 6 – 10 ft spread

Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees

10. Tamukeyama Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’ ‘Tamukeyama’

Tamukeyama Japanese Maple - Grid 2 Square
Images via Fast-Growing-Trees – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize

Tamukeyama Japanese Maple is one of the oldest cultivars still in use today, dating back more than three centuries of use in Japan.

It was also one of the earliest to be introduced to Europe, dating back almost as long.

It is a medium-sized shrub that grows wider than it does tall.

Its brilliant red foliage holds its color well throughout the growing season.

It is easy to grow in a wide variety of soil types in full sun or partial shade. But it prefers a moist, organically rich, well-drained loam.

It would appreciate mulch around its root zone to retain moisture and cool the roots.

Identifying Features of the Tamukeyama Japanese Maple

Tamukeyama Japanese Maple is a medium-sized shrub 6 – 8 ft tall that grows wider (to 12 ft) than it does tall with spreading, pendulous, or cascading branches.

Leaves are red, to 4” long, deeply dissected nearly through to the petiole. Lobes are narrowly elliptic and are also deeply dissected into lobules. Lobe tips are long-acuminate, and the margins are serrated.

Small reddish-purple flowers appear in spring, followed by samaras that ripen in late summer to fall.

Other Common Names: Japanese Maple

Native Area / Origin: Japan – an old cultivar from the 1600s to the 1700s

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 8

Average Size at Maturity: 6 – 8 ft tall, 8 – 12 ft spread

Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills

C. Cultivars of Acer palmatum ‘atropurpureum’

As with Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’, the atropurpureum is a cultivar of Acer palmatum that is not distinct enough to warrant its own botanical variant or form, with all names being officially considered synonyms.

It is mainly a red or purple-leaved variety of the type species.

So, we will describe it here as Acer palmatum ‘atropurpureum’.

11. Red Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘atropurpurem’

Japanese Red Maple - Grid 2 Square
Images via Nature Hills and Fast-Growing-Trees – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize

Red Japanese Maple is the most common, oldest form of the atropurpureum cultivars.

Atropurpereum means dark purple, for its leaves that emerge bright red but turn deep burgundy in summer before turning scarlet red in the fall.

Reds and black in their dark bark add winter interest to the landscape.

It is tall for a Japanese Maple, reaching up to 25 ft tall. However, it can be pruned to any height, making it suitable for smaller landscapes as well.

It is a highly adaptable tree that is tolerant of most soil types and conditions. It will, however, perform best in moist, rich, slightly acidic, well-drained loams.

It can be easily grown in full sun or partial shade, tolerating full sun in hotter climates than some of the other cultivars. Though, if you have particularly hot climates, some afternoon shade and/or mulching around the root zone would be advisable.

Identifying Features of the Red Japanese Maple

The Red Japanese Maple is a small tree (but tall for Japanese Maple) to 25 ft tall with spreading branches creating an open, spreading, or somewhat rounded crown with mostly ascending branches.

Leaves are palmately divided to about ¾ of their length into elliptic lobes with finely serrated margins and long-acuminate tips.

The lobes are not further divided into lobules.

Leaves emerge bright red, turn deep burgundy in summer, then turn scarlet red in the fall.

Small red flowers appear on stalked umbels in the spring.

Other Common Names: Japanese Maple

Origin: An old cultivar; origin unknown

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 8

Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 ft (to 25 ft) tall, 15 – 20 ft spread

Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills

12. Bloodgood Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum atropurpureum ‘Bloodgood’

Bloodgood Japanese Maple - Grid 2 Square

Images via Nature Hills and Fast-Growing-Trees – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize

Bloodgood Japanese Maple is one of the most popular Japanese Maple cultivars used today.

It is a small tree up to 20 ft tall, making it suitable for most landscapes. It can even be grown in a pot on the patio.

The leaves are a spectacular burgundy or reddish-purple in summer but are greener when grown in full sun.

In the fall, the leaves turn crimson red and stay that way for several weeks, providing longer fall color than most of the other cultivars.

Best grown in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained sandy loams.

It can be grown in full sun to partial shade, but full sun in hotter climates will cause the leaves to fade. So, to ensure vibrant color in areas with hot summers, plant it in a location with afternoon shade.

Mulch to retain moisture and keep the roots cool.

Identifying Features of the Bloodgood Japanese Maple

Bloodgood Japanese Maple is a small tree that typically grows up to 20 ft tall with a rounded habit. It sometimes grows as a multi-stemmed shrub.

Its palmately 5 – 7-lobed leaves are 2.5” long and are dissected about ¾ of the way to the petiole with elliptic lobes that taper to a long-acuminate tip.

Leaf margins are coarsely serrated, particularly on the upper half of the lobe towards the tip.

Leaves are a deep burgundy color in spring and summer and turn crimson red in the fall.

Small purple-red flowers appear in umbels in the spring, followed by red samaras in late summer to early fall.

Other Common Names: Japanese Maple, Japanese Red Maple

Origin: Developed prior to WWII in the Bloodgood Nursery, Long Island, New York, USA.

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 8

Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 ft tall, 15 – 20 ft spread

Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills

D. Cultivars of Acer japonicum

Acer japonicum is typically called the Full Moon Maple or sometimes Downy-Japanese Maple.

It is native to Japan and southern Korea.

13. Fernleaf Full Moon Maple – Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’

Fern Leaf Full Moon Maple - Grid 2 Square
Images via Nature Hills and Monrovia – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize

The Fernleaf Full Moon Maple is a popular cultivar for its vibrant fall colors.

In the spring, its deeply cut leaves are green, but in late summer, they start to change scarlet and carmine red with purple tints.

Best grown in partial shade to protect from hot afternoon sun in order to preserve the vibrant leaf color.

It will greatly appreciate mulching around its root zone to retain moisture and protect it from heat.

They perform poorly south of USDA zone 7.

Best grown in moist, average, well-drained sandy loams.

It gets its cultivar name Aconitifolium from the resemblance of its leaves to monkshood.

Identifying Features of the Fern Leaf Full Moon Maple

The Fern Leaf Full Moon Maple is a slow-growing multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with an open, spreading crown.

Leaves are palmately 9 – 11-lobed with deeply cut lobes divided more than ⅞ of their length.

Leaf lobes are oblanceolate in outline and are divided into lobules on their upper half, with narrowly cuneate bases and acuminate tips.

Leaves are medium green and turn shades of red with purple tinges in the fall.

Small reddish flowers appear in spring before the leaves, followed by samaras that mature in late summer to early fall.

Other Common Names: Full Moon Maple

Origin: Cultivar origin unknown.

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 7

Average Size at Maturity: 8 – 12 ft tall, 8 – 10 ft spread

Available at: Nature Hills

E. Cultivars of Acer shirasawanum

Acer shirasawanum is sometimes considered a botanical variant of Acer japonicum, but plant authorities have determined it to be a separate species.

The type species is endemic to Japan.

Even though it has been removed from the Acer japonicum species, it is still commonly called the Full Moon Maple.

It features wide, shallowly lobed palmate leaves that set it apart from other Japanese Maples.

14. Golden Full Moon Maple – Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’

Golden Full Moon Maple
Image via Mr. Maple

The Golden Full Moon Maple has showy bright yellow leaves that gradually darken to yellow-green in summer before turning orange-red in the fall.

It typically grows as a multi-stemmed shrub, but it can be pruned and trained to grow as a small tree with a single trunk.

Best grown in average, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade with medium moisture.

In areas with hot summers, it is best to give partial afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch.

Protect from strong winds.

Late spring frosts may damage the emerging new leaves.

Identifying Features of the Full Moon Maple

The Golden Full Moon Maple is a multi-stemmed shrub or sometimes a small tree.

Branches are ascending becoming spreading as they mature.

Leaves are palmately lobed with 9 – 13 (rarely 7) shallowly cut lobes cut ¼ – ⅓ of the way to the petiole.

Leaves are bright yellow in the spring and may be edged with red; they darken to yellow-green in summer, followed by orange-red and sometimes purple-tinged in the fall.

Reddish-purple flowers appear in erect corymbs in spring.

Red samaras are up to ¾” long and appear in summer, maturing to brown in the fall.

Other Common Names: Shirasawa Maple, Golden Full Moon Maple

Origin: Cultivar origin unknown

USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 7

Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 ft tall, 15 – 20 ft spread

15. Autumn Moon Maple – Acer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’

Autumn Moon Maple
Image via Mr. Maple

The Autumn Moon Maple is one of the few Japanese Maples that are hardy well into USDA zone 4.

It grows as a medium-sized shrub, growing as wide as it does tall with an upright, open form.

Leaves emerge yellow-orange to salmon-pink in the spring, turning bright chartreuse for summer before changing again to a vibrant reddish-orange in the fall.

Best grown in full sun or partial shade in moist, average, well-drained sandy loams.

Being a cold-tolerant tree, it is best to avoid hot or dry sites and mulch to retain moisture and keep the roots cool.

Identifying Features of the Autumn Moon Maple

Autumn Moon Maple grows as a medium-sized shrub, growing as wide as it does tall with an upright, open spreading form with ascending-spreading branches.

Leaves are palmately 9 – 13-lobed with lobes divided ⅓ to ½ of their length, more deeply divided than the Golden Full Moon cultivar.

Leaf margins are serrated towards their long-acuminate tips.

Leaves emerge yellow-orange to salmon-pink in the spring, turning chartreuse in summer, then turning reddish-orange in the fall.

Other Common Names: Full Moon Maple

Origin: Cultivar of JD Vertrees, Oregon, USA

USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 8

Average Size at Maturity: 6 – 10 ft tall, 6 – 10 ft spread

F. Cultivars of Acer pictum

Acer pictum is commonly known as the Yellow-Paint Maple and is native throughout much of East Asia, including China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and eastern Russia.

It is known for its leaves that are often wider than they are long and resemble batwings, giving them its other common name of Batwing Maple.

16. Usugumo Batwing Maple – Acer pictum ‘Usugumo’

Usugumo Batwing Maple
Image via Mr. Maple

The Usugumo Batwing Maple is a rare cultivar with unique leaves that really stand out in the landscape.

Leaves emerge soft coral pink in the spring and turn green by summer, then a pale yellow in fall.

From a distance, the leaves look pale green, but they are actually variegated with a deep green base and green veins with cream to pale yellow mottling.

An upright, medium-sized shrub, it never grows more than 8 ft tall, making it very suitable for small gardens. It performs well in a pot on the patio as well, where it will grow to about 4 ft tall.

Best grown in moist, well-drained sandy loams in partial shade. Avoid hot or dry sites and mulch to retain moisture and keep the roots cool.

It could be grown in full sun in areas with relatively cool summers.

Identifying Features of the Usugumo Batwing Maple

The Usugumo Maple is a medium-sized shrub that will never grow more than 8 ft tall with a rounded, spreading crown.

Leaves are 2 – 3” long with 5 – 7 shallow lobes dissected to about ¼ of their length. Lobes are triangular in outline with long, narrow acuminate tips.

Leaf margins are entire, not serrated.

Leaves emerge coral pink in spring, becoming green with softly variegated cream or pale yellow mottling by summer before turning pale yellow in the fall.

Flowers are greenish-yellow and appear in erect umbels in spring.

Other Common Names: Batwing Maple

Native Area / Origin: Japan; cultivar origin unknown

USDA Growing Zones: 6 – 9

Average Size at Maturity: 6 – 8 ft tall, 4 – 6 ft spread

Japanese Maple Tree Identification (With Photos)

Here, we will discuss six varieties, including 4 distinct species of Japanese Maples, and look at some of the different types of cultivars available for each of them.

Acer palmatum is the Japanese Maple most of us are familiar with. We will look at two of its most common morphological variants, the dissectum and atropurpureum varieties, and how they differ from the type species.

We will also examine the lesser-known Golden Full Moon (Acer shirasawanum) and Full Moon Maples (Acer japonicum) with their uniquely rounded palmate leaves.

And finally, we will look at a rare cultivar of the unique Yellow-Painted Maples (Acer pictum).

Identifying Japanese Maple Trees by Their Leaf Arrangement

All Japanese Maples, and all maples of the Acer genus, have leaves on petioles (leaf stalks) that are arranged in opposite pairs on the branches. This is an easy way to tell any maple from the sycamore tree that has very maple-like leaves but whose leaves are arranged alternately.

Sometimes maples have very compressed nodes that make them appear in false whorls. But if you look close enough, you will see they are still in opposite pairs; the nodes are just close together.

Leaf Arrange - 3 Square - alternate falsewhorl opposite - Acer
Images by Lyrae Willis, Own Work – for Tree Vitalize

Most maples, and all of the Japanese Maples we will discuss, are deciduous trees whose leaves change color, often very vibrant and stunning colors, in the autumn before falling off the trees. They return each spring, before, during, or after flowering, depending on the species.

Identifying Japanese Maple Trees by Their Palmately Lobed Leaves

All of the Japanese Maples we will be looking at, and most maples in the Acer genus, have palmately lobed leaves.

Palmately lobed leaves are leaves that are shallowly or deeply cut into multiple partitions or lobes. These lobes all spread radially from a point, like fingers on a hand, or in this case, the lobes spread radially away from the petiole (leaf stalk).

The lobes are not, however, cut completely to the petiole. No matter how close they may get, they are technically not cut into individual leaflets. Although certain cultivars, particularly the dissectum ones, almost appear as though they are.

Leaf Shape - 6 Square - palmate leaf morphology - Acer
Images by Lyrae Willis, Own Work – for Tree Vitalize

Japanese Maples tend to all have leaves that are more rounded in their outline, with leaves that are about as wide as they are long. This differs from the usual maples, particularly most of those native to North America and Europe, which tend to have leaves that are more triangular or angular in outline.

Identifying Japanese Maples by The Number of Lobes on Their Leaves

You can use the number of lobes a leaf has and how deeply cut (also called incised or dissected) those lobes are to the leaf base to help identify the different types of Japanese Maples.

What is the Difference Between a Lobe and a Lobule?

Often, the lowermost lobes are quite small, and it can be difficult to differentiate between a lobe and a lobule or a large tooth.

So how do you know it is a lobe and not a lobule or large tooth?

A lobule is a projection from a lobe rather than a stand-alone feature of its own. In palmately lobed leaves, a lobe typically has a main vein running to it, while a lobule typically does not.

The distinction between a large tooth and a lobule follows the 25% or ¼ rule. If the distance it cuts is more than ¼ of the distance to the midvein, it is a lobule. If it cuts less than ¼ of the distance to the midvein, then it is a large tooth.

Large teeth are on the sides of the lobes because a lobe tip is never defined as a tooth. Therefore, large teeth in a palmately lobed leaf will also never have a main midvein running to its tip.

Leaf Margins - 3 Square - lobes lobules largeteeth
Images by Lyrae Willis, Own Work – for Tree Vitalize

The Number of Lobes on Some Different Japanese Maple Trees

Acer palmatum leaves are palmately 5 – 7-lobed and are typically divided about to the middle, but they could be divided as much as ¾ of the way to the base.

Acer palmatum ‘atropurpureum’ cultivars are known for their leaves that resemble the type species but are always in vibrant reds, burgundy, or purple that retain their color throughout the growing season. They are not deeply dissected like dissectum cultivars but may be cut ½ to ¾ of their length.

Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’ leaves vary from the type species in being 7 – 11-lobed with very deeply cut lobes that typically cut almost to the petiole, coming close to becoming a compound leaf with separate leaflets.

Acer japonicum leaves are pale green to yellow-green, almost round in outline, and palmately 9 – 11-lobed with deeply cut lobes.

Acer pictum has palmately 3 – 9-lobed leaves that are very shallowly cut, leaving most of the leaf whole; its leaves are often wider than they are long.

Acer shirasawanum has very round, palmately 9 – 13 (rarely 7)-lobed leaves with very shallowly cut lobes (typically less than ⅓ of the way to the midvein).

Palmately divided Japanese Maples - 6 square
Images by Fern Berg, Own Work, and via Nature Hills, and Mr. Maple – Combined and Text Added by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize

Identifying Japanese Maple Trees by The Shape of Their Leaf Lobes

The shape of the lobes on a maple leaf can often be described using the same terms that you would use for the shape of a simple leaf or leaflet of a compound leaf.

Acer palmatum lobes are typically lanceolate, oblanceolate, or somewhat elliptic.

Acer palmatum ‘atropurpureum’ lobes are typically elliptic to oblanceolate in shape.

Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’ lobes are typically elliptic and often quite narrowly elliptic in shape, and they typically have narrowly cuneate bases (wedge-shaped, where the sides meet at an angle of less than 90°). The lobes are often cut so deep they look like individual leaflets.

Acer japonicum lobes are ovate or obovate to oblanceolate in cultivars.

Acer pictum has lobes that are triangular (deltoid) to ovate.

Leaf Shape - 6 Square - deltoid elliptic lanceolate oblanceolate obovate ovate
Images by Lyrae Willis, Own Work – for Tree Vitalize

Identifying Japanese Maple Trees by Their Leaf Tips (Apex)

Most Japanese Maples have lobes that narrow and taper to a fine acuminate (pointy) tip.

It is usually long-acuminate (in most palmatum, dissectum, and atropurpureum cultivars) but could be acuminate (often in Acer japonicum and Acer pictum cultivars) or sometimes almost caudate (occasionally in Acer pictum cultivars), which is similar to long-acuminate but with an extended whip-like or tail-like appendage.

Leaf Apex - 3 Square - acuminate caudate longacuminate
Images by Lyrae Willis, Own Work – for Tree Vitalize

Identifying Japanese Maple Trees by Their Leaf Margins

Most Japanese Maples have leaves (lobes) that have serrated margins.

Serrated margins are jagged-toothed with sharp and usually forward-pointing teeth, like a saw. They can be finely serrated with small, closely spaced teeth, or they can be coarsely serrated with large or small teeth that are farther apart.

All Acer palmatum, dissectum, atropurpureum, and Acer shirasawanum cultivars tend to have serrated margins.

Some have doubly serrated margins where the teeth have teeth of their own. This is seen in some of the Acer palmatum and dissectum cultivars.

Sometimes the teeth are almost dentate, which is much like serrated in that the teeth are sharp, but they are usually triangular and point directly out away from the leaf instead of forward.

Some margins have a combination of sharp lobules and teeth (see section above on What is the Difference Between a Lobe, Lobule, and a Large Tooth), with all the sizes in between. This is often seen in the dissectum and Acer japonicum cultivars.

Acer pictum cultivars have entire margins that are smooth and are not serrated in any way.

Leaf Margins - 4 Square - dentate doubleserrate entire serrate
Images by Lyrae Willis, Own Work – for Tree Vitalize

Identifying Japanese Maple Trees by Their Flowers

Japanese Maples are mostly monecious, with separate male and female flowers on the same tree. They tend to be self-compatible and can pollinate their own flowers.

They all have small flowers in inflorescences that appear before, during, or after leaf emergence in the spring.

Inflorescences are groups or arrangements of two or more flowers. They sit on a single peduncle (inflorescence stalk) or are sessile, and the flowers sit on pedicels (individual flower stalks) that are attached either to the same node on the peduncle or at various heights on a rachis (an extension of the peduncle that is included in the inflorescence itself where pedicels can attach to).

Maple flowers are all so small they are not considered “showy,” but they are still beautiful and showy, but on a smaller scale than most of the flowers that we think of as beautiful or showy.

They are typically grouped into umbels or umbel-like inflorescences that may actually be corymbs where the pedicels are of various lengths so that the surface of the inflorescence is even and more or less flat. Or they may be corymbose-paniculate, which is like a corymb, but the inflorescence itself is also branched, and the pedicels are of varying lengths so that the flowers all sit around the same height and the inflorescence top is even.

The color of the flowers, the type of inflorescence it is in, and when the flowers appear in relation to the leaves are all useful tools in helping to identify the different types of Japanese Maples.

Inflorescences - 3 Square - corymb corymbosepanicle umbel
Images by Lyrae Willis, Own Work – for Tree Vitalize

Acer palmatum flowers appear in spring with the leaves and are in semi-pendulous corymbose-paniculate inflorescences 1 – 1.5” wide. Flowers have purple-red sepals and yellow to pinkish petals but are often more red or purple in various cultivars.

Dissectum and atropurpuerum flowers resemble the Acer palmatum type species, other than usually being more red or purple rather than yellow to pinkish.

Acer japonicum flowers are in terminal, corymbose-paniculate, 10-15-flowered umbel-like inflorescences with purple to reddish flowers that typically appear before the leaves.

Acer pictum flowers are in terminal umbels or umbel-like inflorescences with many small greenish-yellow and white flowers that appear before or with the leaves.

Acer shirasawanum flowers are a little larger than the others, appearing in 10 – 20-flowered erect terminal corymbs in early spring, soon after the leaves have emerged. They are purplish-red with white petals that are quickly deciduous, leaving the purplish-red flower parts behind.

Identifying Japanese Maple Trees by Their Fruits

All maple trees in the Acer genus produce fruits called samaras.

A samara is a winged nutlet where the nutlet is the seed, and its pericarp is expanded to form a wing.

In maples, the samaras are made of two fused nutlets to create the iconic maple samara most of us are familiar with. These are what many of us called “helicopters” as children because of how they spin like little helicopters when they drop to the ground.

Samaras vary in size and color, and that can sometimes be helpful in identifying the different types of Japanese Maples.

They also vary in the spread angle between the two fused nutlets. Most Japanese Maple nutlets are fused at an obtuse angle (greater than 90°), with some being almost horizontal (fused at 180°). This can often differentiate them from other maples whose spread angle is acute.

Fruits - 3 Square - samaraacute samarahorizontal samaraobtuse - Acer
Images by Lyrae Willis, Own Work – for Tree Vitalize

Acer palmatum samaras are 0.6” wide with wings that spread at an obtuse angle.

Acer japonicum samaras are 0.1 – 1.1” wide, yellowish-green, with wings spreading at obtuse angles to nearly horizontal (90°- 160°).

Acer pictum samaras are yellowish and about ½” wide with wings that spread at various angles.

Acer shirasawanum samaras are at least 1” wide and bright red before maturing to brown.

Identifying Japanese Maple Trees by Branch Growth

Japanese Maple tree branches are usually spreading where branches spread away from each other in all directions. This is where there are ascending branches, often in the center, with roughly horizontal branches in the middle and lower branches that may be somewhat to strongly descending. This creates an open and spreading crown.

Some branches are pendulous where they descend so strongly they may be nearly vertical.

Branch Morphology - 4 Square - ascending descending horizontal pendulous
Images by Lyrae Willis, Own Work – for Tree Vitalize

Identifying Japanese Maple Trees by Tree Habit

Japanese Maples are medium to large-sized shrubs or small trees, rarely exceeding 25 ft tall in cultivation.

They typically have open, spreading crowns made of ascending, horizontal, and descending branches.

Some cultivars are described as having a vase-shaped crown, this is a form of open spreading crown that is made only of ascending branches that still spread, but it lacks the horizontal or descending branches that make a truly open and spreading crown.

Often they have rounded forms that may be broad (wider than tall), narrow (oval, taller than wide), or just round (about as wide as it is tall).

Some cultivars have pendulous branches that create a weeping form.

Often, shrub cultivars are described as having a mounding form. Mounding is where it is rounded with a wider base and may be low and spreading to oval or round. From a distance, it looks like a mound of leaves piled up on top of each other.

Some are single-stemmed trees or shrubs, and others, especially shrubs, are often multi-stemmed from the ground up.

Tree Habit - 6 Square - mounding multitrunked openspread rounded vase weeping
Images by Lyrae Willis, Own Work – for Tree Vitalize

Identifying Japanese Maple Trees by Their Bark

All maple tree bark starts out smooth when it is young.

Most Japanese Maple bark remains smooth as it matures, so it is not often used to help identify the different types.

However, some cultivars have different colored bark that can help to identify them.

Acer palmatum type species has bark that is smooth and greenish-gray or light brown.

Acer japonicum type species has bark that is smooth and grayish-white or grayish-brown.

Acer pictum type species has bark that is smooth and gray.

Bark - 2 Square - smoothgreen smoothred
Images by Fern Berg, Own Work and Fast-Growing-Trees

Majestic Japanese Maple Trees

Growing Japanese Maple Trees in Your Garden

Growing Japanese Maple in your garden is easy to do if you find the right tree for the right location. Spend some time researching your tree and your conditions, and you will be rewarded with the beauty of a Japanese Maple with little to no maintenance.

Most Japanese Maples grow very well in USDA zones 5 – 7, but some will do well in USDA zone 8 and 9, and rarely will some do well in USDA zone 4.

Make sure you know which USDA Planting Zones you are in, and if you are a zone pusher, remember to only try to push it one zone on either end by providing a warmer or cooler microclimate for your tree.

Almost all Japanese Maples will benefit from a nice organic mulch around their root zone, being sure to avoid the stem. This will reduce the water frequency and keep the roots cool in areas where summers are hot. Mulch also protects the roots in areas where winters are cold.

Japanese Maple roots are non-invasive, making these trees suitable for planting beside sidewalks, patios, and foundations.

Most Japanese Maples require medium moisture. They are not drought-tolerant trees, so be sure to plant them with access to irrigation if you live in an area with dry summers.

Japanese Maples are usually best grown in a location with at least some afternoon shade unless you have cool summers. Always avoid sites that are hot and dry.

Those with particularly colorful leaves almost always require partial shade in order to retain the vibrant colors. The direct hot sun scorches the leaves and bleaches the color, especially if the soil is not kept moist. The exception to this is the cooler climate zones (USDA zone 5 and 6), but only where the summers are not exceptionally hot.

Finally, most Japanese Maples will perform best in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained loams. But they are not overly picky about soil type, so if you have a different soil, just be sure to amend it with lots of organic matter, and it should do fine.

Check the conditions of your yard before planting, and compare it to your tree’s requirements, and if you have chosen the right tree for the right spot, your tree will thrive and require little to no maintenance.

Check out How to Pick A Tree For Your Yard for more information on choosing the right tree for the right spot in your yard.

Another thing to note about Japanese Maple is that most will easily tolerate growing next to Black Walnut trees, unlike many other trees that cannot.

Pruning is best kept to a minimum, but if necessary, the trees should be pruned while dormant in late fall to mid-winter. Pruning during the growing season in spring or summer often results in significant bleeding that can weaken the tree and make it prone to pests and disease.

Fortunately, Japanese Maples are not considered invasive outside of their native range. However, Acer palmatum, being self-compatible, has escaped cultivation in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It could become invasive under certain conditions and should be monitored for signs of it escaping cultivation.

Interesting Facts About Japanese Maple Trees

Japanese Maples have been cultivated for nearly four centuries that we know of in Japan, with hundreds of cultivars now available, some of which have been grown for hundreds of years.

The first mention of Japanese Maples in literature dates back to the 7th century.

Japanese Maples are short-lived trees, but some of the oldest living are in the Netherlands and Germany, where they are 140 – 160 years old.

Japanese Maples are particularly popular for bonsai and have been used for centuries. Young bonsai trees may sell for as little as $70 USD, while mature 70-year-old Japanese Maple bonsai specimens may sell for $4000 USD or more.

Human Uses of Japanese Maple Trees

Of course, Japanese Maples are widely used around the temperate world as ornamental landscapes and garden trees.

They are also extremely popular among bonsai enthusiasts.

The leaves, twigs, and bark have been used to treat eye conditions and diseases of the liver for centuries. Its use has been documented since the 1700s and likely was used for several more centuries before that. It is even used by people who drink alcohol to protect their livers from alcohol-related damage.

Modern clinical studies have shown that Acer species are, in fact, highly effective in the treatment of rheumatism, bruises, liver disorders, eye disease, pain, and detoxification.

The sap contains sugar and is sometimes used as a drink or concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water and then used as a sweetener.

The wood is sometimes used to manufacture small musical instruments, decorative boxes, and other small items.

Dried wood is often used for smoking fish and meats.

Maple leaves are sometimes eaten as tempura. The fresh leaves are salted or sugared and then fried in batter.

Wildlife Values Japanese Maple Trees Provide

Japanese Maple trees provide a habitat or temporary shelter for small animals and birds.

Though they can self-pollinate, numerous pollinating insects are attracted to the flowers in the spring.

Squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and small mammals will feed on the nutlets in the samaras.

Japanese Maples truly are majestic trees in a small package. I hope you have enjoyed learning about these beautiful trees. Now you can use your newfound skills to identify the Japanese Maples around you or pick one of your own to grow.

With so many sizes and styles to choose from, you will have no trouble finding one that suits you and your yard. Enjoy!

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Photo of author

Lyrae Willis

Environmental Scientist & Plant Ecologist

Lyrae grew up in the forests of BC, Canada, where she got a BSc. in Environmental Sciences. Her whole life, she has loved studying plants, from the tiniest flowers to the most massive trees. She is currently researching native plants of North America and spends her time traveling, hiking, documenting, and writing. When not researching, she is homeschooling her brilliant autistic son, who travels with her and benefits from a unique hands-on education about the environment around him.

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