Japanese maple Acer palmatum
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is a deciduous perennial tree in the Sapindaceae family. It grows 2–6 m (6.6–20 ft) tall and 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -25 °C (-13 °F). Space plants about 3.5 m (11 ft) apart.
Plan Japanese maple in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Japanese maple at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Sapindaceae |
| Mature height | 2–6 m (6.6–20 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft) |
| Spacing | 3.5 m (11 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -25 °C (-13 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 5) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 32 °C (90 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 1–2 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | None |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇨🇳 China, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇰🇷 South Korea |
Is Japanese maple toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Japanese maple is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Japanese maple
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
See Japanese maple in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- The Huntington (2 plants)
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (1 plants)
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden (2 plants)
- The Butchart Gardens (4 plants)
- Missouri Botanical Garden (2 plants)
- Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (2 plants)
- Monet’s gardens at Giverny (3 plants)
- Denver Botanic Gardens (1 plants)
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (6 plants)
- Riverside botanical garden (6 plants)
Questions about Japanese maple
- How far apart should I plant Japanese maple?
- About 3.5 m (11 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft).
- Does Japanese maple need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Japanese maple need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Japanese maple?
- It tolerates about -25 °C (-13 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 5.
- When does Japanese maple flower?
- From about April for 1–2 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Japanese maple poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Japanese maple is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
- What grows well with Japanese maple?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Japanese maple. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Leaf scorch likely in hot, windy sites.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Red maple Acer rubrum
- Lychee Litchi chinensis
- Longan Dimocarpus longan
- Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum
- Sugar maple Acer saccharum
- Norway maple Acer platanoides
- Field maple Acer campestre
- Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum