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Click on the Group Name to see the cultivars available in that group. You can also use our handy Tree Finder or the Search Box above to find the trees you want.
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ACER palmatum (Japanese Maples)
THE SPECIES
From Diversity, Strong Individuals
Acer palmatum is a very diverse group of plants that can be divided into subgroups for the convenience of discussion. These groups refer to leaf structure, but can also imply certain general assumptions as to habit.
I have listed the approximate height you can expect from the individual cultivars at 10 years of age with each listing. Separate estimates of height at 10 years are given for patio container and landscape-grown trees. Estimates are made from available sources and personal observation, but it must be remembered that these trees respond strongly to environmental pressures and size depends largely on culture.
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Amoenum Group
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Leaf lobes are shallowly to moderately divided, up to two-thirds of the way to the leaf base, giving a beautiful star-shaped leaf. Larger and more tree-like than the other Japanese maple species, they are known for their brilliant fall color and layered habit.
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Deeply Divided Group
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Wide-spreading, often multi-trunked and with cascading branchlets; they make excellent patio tub trees. They are easily kept small with regular pruning. Their leaves are toothed, but not pinnately incised as the dissectums, giving the leaves a less fragile look. There are both red and green cultivars in this group.
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Dissectum Group
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The trees in the "lace-leafed" group are really large shrubs, forming a dome shape with strongly pendulous habit. Offered as high grafts at 2' when available or as low grafts for specimen, banks, walls, patio containers or bonsai; please specify. Low grafts begin the beautiful undulating habit we all love right from the ground level, but must be staked for the first 3 feet to help establish a leader. Seiryu is the exception to this rule, being a small upright tree. Dissectums are stunning patio trees. As a group they are sensitive to wind and hot afternoon sun, easily burning at the leaf margins, so careful placement is advised. Both red and green cultivars are offered.
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Dwarf Group
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The "yatsubusa" group are slow growing or compact trees which mature at about three feet. They have very small leaves, short internodes and profuse branching. They are often used for bonsai and rock gardens, and are the perfect selection for patio containers. Their small size is genetically mandated, so no extensive pruning is necessary.
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Linearilobum Group
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The "thread-leafed" group is small and not as well known as the other groups. We love these small upright trees.
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Palmate Group
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The cultivars in this group are mostly upright trees, spreading with age, and have small palmate leaves and very small seeds. Included are red, green and variegated cultivars.
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Maples for Bonsai
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Trees for bonsai are selected with special attention to the surface roots, which need to be balanced, and the graft, which needs to be low and inconspicuous, as well as appropriate low branching. Cutting-propagated trees have no graft, of course, but are much slower growing and tend to have less taper than grafted trees. Be sure to read the "Container Culture" section in this catalog. If you wish further information our booklet, Growing Small Trees in Containers<#link>
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Other Acer Species and Their Cultivars
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There are many small maples of garden interest, in addition to the ever popular Acer palmatum (Japanese maples) that come from Asia. Some are of great interest to bonsai enthusiasts and those of you in USDA zone 5 and colder areas, since many are more hardy than Acer palmatum. Most are more sensitive to hard water than Japanese Maples, so are not usually recommended for areas with less than 15 inches of annual rainfall, because those areas frequently have Alkaline soil and hard water.
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