Japanese maple Acer palmatum: planting, pruning and care

Updated on 19 September 2026Published on 13 February 2019

Palmate or dissected leaves shift from tender green through red and orange, catching the eye from the end of winter to autumn: the Japanese palmate maple (Acer palmatum) is a mainstay of Zen and Japanese gardens, in the ground or in a pot. Give it heath soil and shelter from scorching sun, and it becomes one of the finest trees you can grow.

Palmate maple at a glance
Name	Acer palmatum
Family	Sapindaceae
Type	tree
Height	16 to 26 feet (5 to 8 meters)
Exposure	full sun, part sun
Soil	heath soil
Foliage	deciduous
Flowering	Spring

It bestows us all year long with leaves in a magnificent range of colors.

Planting palmate maple

Plant Japanese maple preferably in fall or spring.

Although this tree accepts full sun emplacements, it fears scorching sun that would quickly make its foliage fall down.
Also favor part sun especially during the hottest hours.

It is strongly advised to plant Japanese maple in pure heath soil, or mixed with soil mix.

Follow our guidelines for planting heath plants

Choose a spot sheltered from cold drying winds, because the thin leaves of Acer palmatum, especially the finely dissected forms, scorch at the margins when exposed to constant draughts.
Avoid chalky ground: Japanese maple needs an acidic to neutral soil, and lime locks up iron and causes yellowing leaves with green veins, known as chlorosis.
Soak the container in a bucket of water until air bubbles stop rising before planting, then tease out any roots circling the root ball so they grow outwards into the soil.
Set the tree so its root flare — which may be buried inside the nursery root ball and need excavating — sits level with or slightly above the surrounding soil, and water generously at planting and through the first dry spells.

Pruning and caring for Acer palmatum

Care and location are two important criteria that will make your Japanese maple one of the most beautiful trees of your garden or terrace.

Japanese maple naturally takes on magnificent shapes, sometimes layered, weeping or natural. This differs depending on the variety.

It isn’t really a requirement to prune.

If, however, you wish to reduce branches, do it between the months of November, after leaves have fallen, and March, before spring growth.

Like other maple species, Acer palmatum leaves might be covered in black spots.

Simply rake up every single leaf in fall and burn them.
This reduces the harmless but ugly infestation by about 80% every year.

Growing Acer palmatum: the five points that matter

Everything the palmate maple asks for comes down to a handful of decisions about light, soil, secateurs and mulch. Here they are side by side.

Growing Acer palmatum: the five points that matter
Point of care	What to do	Why it matters
Exposure	Part sun, especially during the hottest hours	It accepts full sun but fears scorching sun, which makes the foliage fall
Soil	Pure heath soil, or heath soil mixed with soil mix	This is the planting medium strongly advised for the tree
Pruning	Only if you wish to reduce branches, from November to March	After leaves have fallen and before spring growth starts
Black spots on leaves	Rake up every single leaf in fall and burn them	Cuts the harmless but ugly infestation by around 80% each year
Mulching	Maritime pine bark mulch	Adds acidity, protects roots in cold winters and keeps moisture in

Get light and soil right first: pruning is optional, siting is not.

Eight Acer palmatum cultivars worth choosing between

Palmate maples differ far more in size, leaf shape and colour than in their needs. This table sets the most widely sold cultivars side by side so you can match one to the space and light you actually have.

Eight Acer palmatum cultivars worth choosing between
Variety	Leaf colour	Habit	Best use
‘Katsura’	Apricot-orange young leaves, gold autumn	Compact, rounded	Pot growing, spring display
‘Sango-kaku’	Light green, butter-yellow autumn; coral-red bark	Upright, vase-shaped	Winter interest, back of bed
‘Osakazuki’	Green, turning fiery scarlet	Upright, broad	Autumn colour specimen
‘Orange Dream’	Orange-yellow leaves, green in summer	Bushy, upright	Part sun, sheltered pot
‘Butterfly’	Grey-green with cream margins, pink flush	Narrow, upright	Small gardens, courtyards
‘Bloodgood’	Deep purple-red, crimson in autumn	Upright, rounded crown	Specimen tree, larger beds
‘Atropurpureum’	Bronze-purple, scarlet autumn	Upright, spreading	Screening, heath plant bed
‘Dissectum Garnet’	Garnet-red finely cut leaves	Low, weeping mound	Large pot, pond edge

Learn more about Japanese maple, Acer palmatum

Acer palmatum fall — Red and orange hues suit heath plant beds

Introduced in Europe in the 19^th century, this particular sub-family of Japanese maple slowly gained in recognition thanks to its delicate and colorful foliage. It usually grows much smaller than its cousin, common maple.

A magnificent tree with fiery colors, all these species of Japanese maple furnish palmate or dissected foliage that catch the eye from the end of winter up to fall.

Its red, orange or tender green hues certainly make it one of the most beautiful trees to pair with your heath plant beds.

Acer palmatum is perfectly adapted to the setting up of a Zen Garden or Japanese garden, both in the ground or in a pot.

You can thus plant it easily together with rhododendron, camellia and hydrangea.

The most common species and varieties include: Acer palmatum ‘dissectum’, ‘Senkaki’, ‘bloodgood’, ‘atropurpureum’, ‘butterfly’ and ‘heptalobum’.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I plant a Japanese maple in full sun?

It does accept a full sun position, but it fears scorching sun, which quickly makes the foliage drop. Part sun is the safer choice, above all during the hottest hours of the day. Care and location together decide how handsome the tree becomes.

What soil does Acer palmatum need?

Heath soil is the rule, used pure or mixed with soil mix. A mulch of maritime pine bark suits it well, since it keeps the soil acidic while protecting the roots through cold winters and holding moisture. That is also why it pairs so naturally with rhododendron, camellia and hydrangea in a heath plant bed.

When and how should I prune my Acer palmatum?

Pruning is not really a requirement: the tree naturally takes on magnificent shapes, sometimes layered, sometimes weeping, depending on the variety. If you do want to reduce branches, work between November, once the leaves have fallen, and March, before spring growth resumes.

Why does my Japanese maple have black spots on its leaves?

Like other maple species, Acer palmatum leaves can become covered in black spots. The infestation is harmless, simply unsightly. Rake up every single leaf in autumn and burn them: this alone reduces the problem by about 80% each year.

Smart tip about Japanese maple

Mulch based on maritime pine bark is perfectly appropriate for this tree because it provides acidity to the soil while protecting roots when winters are cold and retaining moisture.