Drive through any neighborhood in the fall, and chances are you’ll see a splash of Japanese maple color (in USDA zones 5-8, certainly). Striking varieties of Acer palmatum and A. palmatum var. dissectum grace yards with finely cut leaves in multifaceted shades of red, yellow, orange and green. Sure, Japanese maple seasonal characteristics vary in tone, but you can generally expect exceptional fall foliage.
However, these beautiful trees are not just about their autumnal displays. Their textures and tones delight year round and, in some cases, not just for their foliage. Given the right Japanese maple care, you can enjoy multi-seasonal dynamics. If you are looking for the quintessential tree for year-round interest, here are some of the most inspiring varieties of Japanese maples. Rest assured, they will fill your yard with a spectacular show from spring through to winter, year after year.
Why Japanese Maples are Great 4-Season Trees
These trees are revered for their brilliant fall foliage in reds, golden yellows and bright oranges, or a dazzling mix. Japanese maple color is heavily identified with these fiery autumnal displays, and you may have wondered if these tones are possible year round. Some varieties do stay red, but the amount of sun will affect how well they hold their color. Too much sun can cause fading or scorching, with crispy or brown Japanese maple leaves. That said, cultivars ‘Bloodgood,’ ‘Red Dragon,’ ‘Crimson Queen’ and ‘Emperor 1’ retain their color well.
That said, these are outstanding trees across all the seasons. Indeed, Japanese maple colors can be just as captivating in spring. You’ll see emerging spring foliage in red, pink or green, often changing to a deep green in summer. Certain Japanese maple foliage color changes have a way of standing out in a crowd. These summer displays then transform into those stunning fall hues of red, scarlet, orange or gold.
Even though these trees are deciduous, winter shows off their structural beauty, and certain cultivars have interesting bark variations. Japanese maples with colored bark include A. palmatum ‘Gold Digger,’ which has pale yellow bark, and the popular 'Sango-kaku' (listed below) with its fine coral bark. Certain specimens such as ‘Nishiki-gawa’ have wrinkled, coarsely textured bark which resembles pine.
Best Japanese Maples for Year-Round Beauty
The colors of Japanese maples are often the primary incentive for selection. However, there are plenty of other reasons to choose these versatile trees, based on the specific needs and conditions of your yard. Japanese maple growth habits are upright, dwarf, cascading or weeping, with sizes from 2-30 feet (60cm-9m) in height, so there is something for everyone. Dwarf cultivars work well in foundations and container gardens, as bonsai specimens, or as hedge plants. Taller trees can provide dappled shade in a woodland garden, or can be mixed with other trees and shrubs.
Try these Japanese maples for enduring tone, texture, and lively focal interest. Plant them in slightly acidic, well-drained soil with morning sun and afternoon shade for the best performance. If you aren’t sure about your soil’s acidity levels, test with a meter such as the Raintrip 4-in-1 Soil Meter from Amazon. Don’t forget mulching to keep the soil moist and ensure that these 4-seasons trees stay at their best all year long.
1. Bloodgood
This is the classic broadleaf Japanese maple, reaching 25 feet (7.6 m), with rich foliage that turns dramatic scarlet in the fall. Yet ‘Bloodgood’ delights through the year. It gives an upright canopy of reddish purple leaves in spring, creating ruby tones in summer (slightly darker where there is more shade), before catching fire in the fall. Once the leaves fall away, it reveals smooth, silvery branches with red tones in winter.
Unlike many Japanese maple, this one is resistant to leaf scorch. Plant ‘Bloodgood’ where you can appreciate the morning or evening sunlight dancing through the vivid foliage. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5-8. Buy Brighter Blooms’ Japanese Maple ‘Bloodgood’ from Amazon.
2. Orangeola
One of the best laceleaf Japanese maples for fiery red-orange fall color, Orangeola also creates a breathtaking form with its weeping silhouette. It starts out with orange and coral tones in emerging spring foliage which changes to green and purplish in summer. This is followed by a second flush of orange, creating a textured cascade of varying leaf tone. Then come the dazzling autumnal oranges and reds that give this Japanese maple its name, before leaving graceful arching branches in winter.
Orangeola’s cascading form tops out at 5 feet tall (1.5m). It is more heat resistant than many Japanese maple varieties, as well as being hardy in USDA zones 5-9. Thanks to its compact form, this is one of the most gorgeous trees for containers, patios and courtyards. Buy 'Orangeola' Japanese Maples from Fast Growing Trees.
3. Tamukeyama
There is something fern-like about ‘Tamukeyama’ with its gently weeping habit, so it could work well in fern gardens as well as a specimen plant. This deeply cut, purple-red Japanese maple grows in a cascading mound shape to 10 feet (3m) tall and wide. Its fall foliage intensifies to a deeper scarlet and is reputed for its dependable color. New leaves appear rich red in spring, maintaining a rich intensity through summer, as long as you maintain good moisture levels in the soil and allow for afternoon shade.
Red radiant foliage colors deepen through to fall, when this deciduous beauty will quietly shed its leaves and reveal gently arching branching and bark details. It’s a versatile choice for both compact gardens and larger containers. It flourishes in USDA zones 5-8, but be sure to protect from strong dry winds in order to get the most from these satisfying hues. You can buy Japanese Maple ‘Tamukeyama’ from Fast Growing Trees.
4. Coral Bark (Sango-kaku)
Upright 'Sango-kaku' is also known as Coral Bark because of its distinctive bark color tones, which shift in intensity through the year. This Japanese Maple, which reaches 15-20 feet (4.6-6m) tall and wide, is much loved for its salmon pink bark, which deepens in winter to coral red and contrasts beautifully with gold fall leaves and brightly tinted fall flowering trees you might have growing nearby.
Spring foliage also loves lovely, though, emerging light green with red edges and persisting all summer. And then in winter, that stunning bark shimmers against seasonal frosts and deep blue skies. This Japanese maple thrives in USDA zones 5-8 – but just avoid dry winds and intense heat. Buy Coral Bark Japanese Maples from Nature HIlls. There is also a dwarf variety called ‘Little sango’, which tops out at 8 feet (2.4m).
5. Viridis
Another gorgeous weeping laceleaf (dissectum) variety, this Japanese maple creates dreamy drifts of weeping color. Its delicately feathered foliage is bright green for most of spring and summer, falling into finely textured gold and crimson leaves in the fall. In some cases, the tonal shifts appear as edging on green leaves for an enchanting multi-colored effect and dramatic fall color trees. The branching of this lovely tree becomes more pronounced in winter as the leaves fall away.
‘Viridis’ grows slowly to 8 feet (2.4m) tall and wide with excellent branching structure that is especially evident in winter. As a predominantly green variety, this Japanese maple is more tolerant of sunlight than some of the red varieties, but do keep an eye out for signs of stress like leaf curl on hot days, make sure you retain soil moisture, and cultivate only in USDA zones 5-8. Buy ‘Viridis’ Japanese Maples from Amazon.
6. Green Mist
This Japanese maple has the perfect name, as the foliage really does give a misty appearance. ‘Green Mist’ is a delicate, sweeping specimen with lacy green foliage which starts pale and then gleams brightly all summer, shifting to gold and red in autumn, before dropping to reveal a dainty and delicate structure in winter.
Dappled light gives the best visual displays year round for these partially shade loving trees. These delicate lacy leaves will get stressed and scorched in intense heat, but ‘Green Mist’ is otherwise happy in USDA zones 5-9. It grows up to 12 feet tall (3.7m) and 10 feet wide (3m), and creates easy elegance even in small spaces. You can buy ‘Green Mist’ Japanese Maple trees from Maple Ridge Nursery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Japanese maples stay red all year?
It depends on the cultivar. Some trees start out red and change to green in the summer, then return to red in the fall. Others stay green, yellow, or red all season. Red can fade if the cultural conditions are not met – for instance, if there is too much sun.
Do Japanese maples keep their leaves year round?
No, Japanese maples are deciduous trees, which means they drop their leaves in the fall. However, this is only for a while, and the leaves of your Japanese Maple tree will return in the following growing season.
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