Falling for Japanese Maple
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Maples – there are literally thousands to choose from, each with their own colorful characteristics. So how do you choose just one? Well, if you want great fall color and don’t have a lot of room, Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are a great place to start.
The problem is, if you know a little about Japanese maples, that there are hundreds of different kinds. You can get a Japanese maple with green or red leaves, whole or cut-leaf (laceleaf) foliage, or a weeping or upright form. Then you need to wade through all the cultivars, many of which are difficult to pronounce.  Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Lane Greer | | As the leaves turn, you’ll see a mix of purple, red and sometimes orange or yellow. |
The best way to choose is to figure out what you’re looking for in a Japanese maple. In general, the red-leaf types (designated as var. atropurpureum or ‘Atropurpureum’) turn red in fall, while the green-leaf types turn yellow or orange. Both whole-leaf and cut-leaf types (designated as var. dissectum or ‘Dissectum’) have good color, but whole leaves really do give more of a display. Whether you choose a weeping or upright form depends on your space. Weeping forms are shorter and take up less room in the landscape. They make an excellent specimen tree (the kind you want to set apart to really make a statement in your garden).
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| Facts |
- Every plant has a binomial (two name) scientific name, derived from Latin and written in italics. The first part of the name is the genus, and the second part is the species. For example, Acer macrophyllum is the scientific name of bigleaf maple. Acer always means “maple,” with macro- meaning “big” and -phyllum meaning “leaf.”
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| Faqs |
- Q: If I see a plant tag with Acer palmatum var. dissectum atropurpureum on it, what does the plant look like?
A: Acer means maple. Palmatum means it has palm-shaped leaves that radiate. Dissectum means that the leaves are divided. Atropurpureum means it has red or purple leaves. So, you’ve got a cut-leaf, red Japanese maple. Voila!
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| Resources |
- For the real scoop on these great trees, see Japanese Maples by J.D. Vertrees and Peter Gregory (Timber Press, 2001).
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