Japanese Weeping Maple Care: Tips For Growing Japanese Weeping Maples

Amy Draiss
Japanese weeping maple trees are among the most colorful and unique trees available for your garden. Unlike regular Japanese maples, the weeping variety grows happily in warm regions. Read on for additional information about Japanese weeping maples.
About Japanese Weeping Maples
The scientific name of Japanese weeping maples is Acer palmatum var. dissectum, of which there are several cultivars. The weeping variety is both delicate and supple, bearing the lacy leaves on branches that bend gracefully toward the ground.
The leaves of Japanese weeping maple trees are deeply dissected, much more so than regular Japanese maples with erect growth habits. For that reason, Japanese weeping maple trees are sometimes called laceleafs. The trees rarely get taller than 10 feet (3 m.).
Most people who plant Japanese weeping maple trees look forward to the autumn show. Fall color can be bright yellow, orange, and red. Even when you are growing Japanese maples in total shade, the fall color can be striking.
How to Grow a Japanese Weeping Maple
You can start growing Japanese weeping maples outdoors unless you live outside U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 9. If you live in cooler or warmer zones, consider growing them as container plants instead.
When you think about Japanese weeping maples, you’ll realize that the delicately cut leaves will be vulnerable to heat and wind. To protect them, you’ll want to site the tree in a place providing afternoon shade and wind protection.
Be sure the site drains well and follow a regular watering schedule until an extensive root system develops. Most laceleaf varieties grow slowly but are resistant to harm from pests and diseases.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free copy of our e-book "How to Grow Delicious Tomatoes".
Japanese Weeping Maple Care
Protecting the tree’s roots is part of Japanese weeping maple care. The way to care for the roots is to spread a thick layer of organic mulch over the soil. This holds in moisture as well and prevents weed growth.
When you are growing Japanese weeping maples, water them regularly, especially in the early days after transplanting. It’s a good idea as well to flood the tree from time to time to leach salt from the soil.

Teo Spengler is a master gardener and a docent at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, where she hosts public tours. She has studied horticulture and written about nature, trees, plants, and gardening for more than two decades. Her extended family includes some 30 houseplants and hundreds of outdoor plants, including 250 trees, which are her main passion. Spengler currently splits her life between San Francisco and the French Basque Country, though she was raised in Alaska, giving her experience of gardening in a range of climates.
- Amy DraissDigital Community Manager
-
Are Hydrangeas Poisonous To Cats? How To Keep Kitties Safe Around These Common Flowers
There are so many gorgeous varieties of hydrangea to add showy color to your garden, but are hydrangeas poisonous to your cats? Learn more to keep kitty safe.
-
The 3 Big Reasons Birds Aren’t Visiting Your Bird Bath – Plus, Smart Bird Bathing Ideas To Bring More Birdies Fluttering To Your Yard
You love garden birds, so why don’t they visit your bird bath? Here are 3 key reasons why, along with quick and clever bird bath ideas to encourage feathered friends to drink and play
-
How To Keep Dahlias Flowering For Longer – Start Now With These Pro Tips For A Bloom-Filled Summer & Fall
They are some of the most popular, diverse and dynamic summer flowers you can grow – so here’s how to keep dahlias flowering for as long as you possibly can for a joyful extended season of blooms
-
Do Deer Eat Hydrangeas? How To Keep Beloved Shrubs Safe From Greedy Grazers
Do deer like hydrangeas? Everything you need to now about deer and hydrangeas, including the best types to plant if you have deer in your area.
-
8 Flowering Shrubs That Bloom All Summer – To Vamp Up Borders & Sweeten Your Curb Appeal
Looking for the longest blooming bushes for your borders, pathways and lawn edgings? You'll love these 8 flowering shrubs that bloom all summer long
-
6 Blue Ornamental Grasses That Will Wow Your Neighbors And Add A Unique Touch To Your Landscape
Choosing a blue ornamental grass can dress up borders and yards with striking color that changes with the seasons.
-
How To Grow A Sorbet Peony For Fluffy Pink Double Blooms With Unique Frills
For pink peonies with a unique edge, the Sorbet peony is a super-frilly bloomer with marshmallow and cream colored petals. Here’s how to grow this dynamic cultivar
-
Grow Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea Shrubs: Try Vanille Fraise Hydrangeas For Sweet Blooms Every Summer
For a dreamy shrub that brings soft color variations and long lasting visual interest, grow a Vanilla Strawberry hydrangea. Here’s how to care for Vanille Fraise shrubs
-
Coral Sunset Peony: Your Complete Guide To This Beautiful Color-Changing Hybrid
The coral sunset peony is a gorgeous addition to any garden. This beauty has double blooms that undergo an amazing color change as they age.
-
How To Grow Panicle Hydrangeas For Gorgeous, Low-Maintenance Blooms All Summer Long – Plus, Top Cultivars To Try
Panicle hydrangeas are the ultimate low-maintenance shrubs! These beauties bloom all summer and all it takes is a little care. Here's how to help them thrive.