He’s additionally warmth and chilly tolerant, and reasonably sluggish rising – anticipate a peak and unfold of about 15 toes at maturity. Plus, this selection is extraordinarily proof against pests and illnesses.
Emperor One
Nature Hills Nursery carries this perennial favourite. Two- to three-foot tall vegetation can be found in #2 containers.
4. Fireglow
Warn the neighbors once you plant ‘Fireglow’ as a result of they may need to name the hearth division once they see the solar shining via the colourful leaves of this tree, which units the panorama ablaze with a glowing three-season show.
Within the spring, the leaves emerge with a putting, daring, and shiny ruby shade.
These transition to maroon in the summertime, although they’ll develop an orange hue on the again in direct solar. Come autumn they’ll change once more, this time to a fiery purple with hints of orange.
The closely lobed, palmate leaves could look delicate, however ‘Fireglow’ is understood for being robust sufficient to resist direct solar even in scorching climates.
‘Fireglow’
It gained’t outgrow a small area both, topping out at about 10 toes in 15 years.
Mild up your panorama by choosing up a tree from Maple Ridge Nursery.
5. Garnet
‘Garnet’ is a weeping ruby-colored A. palmatum var. dissectum – aka weeping Japanese maple – that lives as much as its identify.
It begins the season with deep maroon foliage earlier than steadily transitioning to shiny, deep garnet within the fall. It stays extraordinarily compact at 5 toes tall and vast, with a pure umbrella-like kind.
‘Garnet’
The deeply-lobed leaves are closely serrated, giving the impression of a bunch of jewel-like strips of lace dancing within the wind.
If this gem’s bought your eye, vegetation can be found from Nature Hills.
6. Oregon Sundown
Just like the altering colours within the sky simply earlier than nightfall, A. palmatum ‘Oregon Sundown’ steadily transitions via varied colours via the rising season.
The rounded, palmate leaves begin out shiny purple earlier than altering to plum purple in the summertime. When fall arrives, they shift to orange-red.
This sluggish grower is ideal in containers or a small backyard plot. It solely reaches seven toes tall in 20 years, however will ultimately attain 10 toes tall and vast in perfect circumstances with time.
‘Oregon Sundown’
In case you dwell someplace with scorching summers, plan to offer this cultivar a little bit safety from the afternoon warmth.
In case you’re prepared to take a seat again and revel in a three-season sundown in your backyard, seize a potted specimen at Maple Ridge Nursery.
7. Pévé Starfish
In order for you one thing a little bit completely different to face out from the laceleafs and the everyday palmates of the Japanese maple world, try ‘Pévé Starfish.’
Properly-known Dutch breeder Piet Vergeldt launched this uncommon A. palmatum, which has backward-cupped leaves that distinctly resemble purple starfish.
The foliage is shiny crimson within the spring, maroon in the summertime, and even brighter crimson within the fall, and timber keep beneath eight toes tall.
‘Pévé Starfish’
Decide up ‘Pévé Starfish’ in one- and three-gallon containers from Maple Ridge Nursery.
8. Purple Dragon
A. palmatum var. dissectum ‘Purple Dragon’ is a sublime weeping tree that stays small, reaching simply 4 toes in peak in about 10 years.
However whereas its fernlike, skinny, closely serrated, scarlet leaves are beautiful, what makes this tree so extremely wanted is its capability to carry its shade all summer season – even when it’s extraordinarily scorching and different maples are fading.
‘Purple Dragon’ doesn’t want the warmth to look its greatest, although. It should retain its crimson hue even in partial shade.
‘Purple Dragon’
Prepared to choose up a dragon of your very personal to tame at residence? Nature Hills Nursery has specimens accessible in #2 and #5 containers.
Be taught extra about rising ‘Purple Dragon’ in our full information.
9. Purple Choose
They emerge deep purple within the spring, however by fall the leaves flip a daring, vibrant purple.
Mixed with a gracefully arching development behavior, ‘Purple Choose’ makes for a sublime centerpiece or accent in your outside area.
This plant was cultivated from the ever-popular ‘Inaba Shidare’ and so they look pretty comparable, although ‘Purple Choose’ options smaller leaves. It reaches 10 toes tall and 15 toes vast at maturity.
Some Acer vegetation are delicate to air pollution, however not ‘Purple Choose.’
‘Purple Choose’
This A. palmatum var. dissectum cultivar has palm-shaped leaves and the younger branches are purple, steadily fading to grey as they mature.
Prepared to pick out this beaut in your backyard? Nab one at Quick Rising Bushes. They carry this traditional choice in a one- to two-foot peak.
10. Tamukeyama
Chances are high there’s a ‘Tamukeyama’ rising in a backyard close to you. That’s as a result of it’s been accessible to gardeners for over 300 years and it ticks all the best containers.
It’s a vigorous grower, tolerant of warmth, leafs out later within the spring to keep away from late frost injury, and it holds its shade properly all summer season lengthy.
The cascading, umbrella-like form requires little pruning to take care of, and the deeply lobed, closely serrated leaves appear like petite crimson ferns.
The colour begins out plum and stays that means all through the summer season earlier than shifting to vibrant crimson within the fall.
‘Tamukeyama’
It grows as much as 10 toes tall and 12 toes vast.
Nature Hills Nursery carries this traditional in #2 nursery pots, or in #10 containers so you may get a soar on the rising course of.
11. Twombly’s Purple Sentinel
Ken Twombly of Twombly’s Nursery in Connecticut noticed an uncommon development on a Japanese maple at a church someday.
Recognizing an excellent factor when he noticed it, he propagated the reducing and the result’s a stunner that’s unparalleled within the Japanese maple world.
This tree is upright and very slim with a three-foot width and a 10-foot peak when mature. Place these in a row or as a single shiny scarlet sentry within the backyard.
‘Twombly’s Purple Sentinel’
The leaves are palmate with seven lobes that characteristic finely serrated edges. Purplish-red in the course of the summer season, they brighten as much as a daring, shiny vermillion within the fall.
You will discover ‘Twombly’s Purple Sentinel’ accessible from Maple Ridge Nursery in one-, three-, and seven-gallon containers.
Purple Means… Go!
In the case of Japanese maples, purple means go! Pop on over to your nearest nursery both on-line or in particular person, and scoop one up so as to add daring, shiny shade to your outside area.
And if you’ll want to brush up on the way to look after these timber, try our rising information.
Which one will you choose? Or did we miss one that you just’re notably keen on? Share with us within the feedback!
After all, there’s extra to those marvelous timber than what we’ve coated right here. In case you discovered this text helpful, learn these Japanese maple guides subsequent:
© Ask the Consultants, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Initially revealed December 7, 2022. Final up to date November 13, 2025. Product photographs by way of Quick Rising Bushes, Maple Ridge Nursery, and Nature Hills Nursery. Uncredited photographs: Shutterstock.
