To make an enormous assertion in a small house, the Japanese maple is likely one of the finest choices on the market.
Dwarf sorts can match into a fairly tiny spot, however their influence within the backyard is something however small.
You aren’t restricted to weeping sorts, both.
There are upright growers and even one cultivar you can practice over arbors or espalier. You might be restricted, as they are saying, solely by your creativeness. Oh, and possibly your funds, after all.
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In case your aim is to develop a Japanese maple tree in a pot, a dwarf possibility is good.
However even just a bit spot within the backyard shall be well-served by one of many following varieties:
17 Favourite Dwarf Japanese Maples
What’s a dwarf Japanese maple? There’s no official restrict, however on this roundup we’ll follow those who keep below 10 ft tall at maturity.
All the bushes on this listing develop effectively in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to eight until famous in any other case.
1. Crimson Queen
‘Crimson Queen’ appears to make everyone’s “better of” listing and it’s no marvel – she’s exhausting to beat.
The dramatically weeping, compact form requires no pruning to take care of.
‘Crimson Queen’ is a reasonably gradual grower, so that you received’t should struggle to maintain her petite both. As soon as mature, after about 20 years, she’ll be about 10 ft vast and tall.
The cascading type of this A. palmatum cultivar is fairly all by itself, however the crimson foliage is extremely putting.
The extraordinarily palmate leaves are closely serrated, making them appear like skinny strips of crimson lace.
‘Crimson Queen’
To carry this royal marvel house, hail a two- to three-foot-tall tree from Nature Hills Nursery.
Discover extra data about caring for ‘Crimson Queen’ right here.
2. Elizabeth
Famous Japanese maple breeder Skeeter Rod found ‘Elizabeth,’ which he named for his spouse, as a mutation. Thank goodness he did. This A. palmatum cultivar is an ever-evolving stunner.
Within the spring, the leaves are vivid crimson earlier than altering to lime inexperienced and crimson in the summertime. By fall, ‘Elizabeth’ adjustments her outfit as soon as once more to a vibrant scarlet.
‘Elizabeth’
A really compact, slow-growing, upright possibility, she grows to about 5 ft tall and three ft vast in about 10 years.
You will discover vegetation in one- and three-gallon containers obtainable from Maple Ridge Nursery.
3. Fireball
It may be a problem to search out dwarf Japanese maples (or any Japanese maples) that thrive in Zone 4b, however ‘Fireball’ seemingly creates its personal warmth.
It was found as a witches’-broom, or a genetic mutation marked by uncommon development, on a tree in New Jersey.
When you’re unfamiliar with Japanese maple sorts, witches’-brooms function a center lobe that’s shorter than the encompassing lobes.
The brilliant crimson leaves on this plant have 5 lobes with a shorter center lobe. Sluggish rising with an upright behavior, this cultivar will attain simply 5 ft tall and three ft vast in about 15 years.
‘Fireball’
To select up this distinctive magnificence, head on over to Maple Ridge Nursery to select from vegetation in one- and three-gallon containers.
4. Germaine’s Gyration
This tree lives as much as its title with twisting, turning branches that nearly resemble a contorted filbert (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’) solely with traditional Japanese maple foliage.
At most, it is going to develop to seven ft tall and as much as 12 ft vast, with a gracefully arching behavior.
‘Germaine’s Gyration’
Within the spring and summer time, the leaves are vivid inexperienced trimmed in burgundy. By fall, they flip vivid orange with hints of crimson and yellow.
Gyrate your technique to Maple Ridge Nursery to discover a dance associate of your personal.
5. Inaba Shidare
A. palmatum var. dissectum, ‘Inaba Shidare’ is putting. The foliage is vivid, daring crimson and every leaf is huge, with each spanning six inches vast or extra.
However the leaves don’t simply produce a stable mass of shade. Every one is deeply lobed and extremely serrated, resembling huge strips of crimson lace. It’s delicate and arresting, suddenly.
A beautiful weeping cultivar, ‘Inaba Shidare’ grows to about eight ft tall and as much as twice as vast. It’s additionally pretty fast rising, so that you don’t have to attend lengthy for the complete present.
‘Inaba Shidare’
Make this cultivar yours by grabbing one at Maple Ridge Nursery.
6. Jeddeloh Orange
A weeping, cascading kind that grows to only eight ft tall and 5 ft vast, A. palmatum var. dissectum ‘Jeddeloh Orange’ will all the time draw feedback.
The lacy, serrated leaves begin the 12 months with a nice orange hue earlier than shifting to inexperienced with orange highlights in the summertime.
‘Jeddeloh Orange’
It adjustments shade as soon as once more within the fall, transitioning to good orange-gold.
Nature Hills Nursery carries this tree, which reaches eight ft tall and 6 ft vast at maturity, so you’ll be able to add some orange delight to your yard.
7. Karasugawa
This Japanese maple cultivar, typically written as ‘Karasu Gawa,’ places on a particularly dramatic present for such a tiny specimen.
Reaching a peak below eight ft when mature, the early spring foliage is pink however transitions to white in the course of the spring.
Not each leaf will develop into completely white, nevertheless. You’ll see speckles and streaks of white on a pink base, relying on the solar publicity. Some leaves develop inexperienced speckles as effectively.
By the autumn, the whole leaf turns vivid crimson, typically with inexperienced margins.
‘Karasugawa’
There are some drawbacks to pay attention to with this Oregon-bred magnificence. It burns in full daylight and it solely grows in Zones 5b to eight, or probably in 9 with safety from the afternoon solar.
This implies it’s only a bit temperamental, nevertheless it’s effectively definitely worth the effort for the spectacular present it places on all through three seasons.
Nab this upright A. palmatum at Nature Hills Nursery.
8. Orion
Offering a weeping constellation of leaves, ‘Orion’ grows simply 4 ft tall and 7 ft vast inside about 15 years.
Whereas the deeply lobed, closely serrated leaves have a stupendous form, it’s the colour that may have you ever seeing stars.
Within the spring, this huntsman’s cloak is stable, vivid crimson.
By summer time, the leaves have crimson margins and orange and copper-green veins. Come fall, the tree adjustments once more with the seasons, transitioning to stable, vivid orange.
‘Orion’
You will discover bushes in one- and three-gallon containers obtainable at Maple Ridge Nursery, so you’ll be able to add this one to your personal tree constellation.
9. Pink Filigree Lace
You’d be hard-pressed to discover a Japanese maple with extra finely reduce, delicate leaves.
Every leaf is closely serrated and very skinny, like crimson threads dangling within the breeze on a weeping tree. Inside about 15 years, this selection reaches 4 ft tall and 5 ft vast.
In contrast to some crimson maples, this one doesn’t lose its vibrant shade in partial shade.
‘Pink Filigree Lace’
Want a bit of lace in your life? Seize a tree in a one- or three-gallon container from Maple Ridge Nursery.
10. Rhode Island Pink
‘Bloodgood’ is likely one of the hottest Japanese maples in North America, nevertheless it isn’t a dwarf tree.
‘Rhode Island Pink,’ nevertheless, takes all of the issues we love about ‘Bloodgood’ and smooshes it down into a wonderfully diminished dimension.
It leafs out in crimson crimson earlier than settling into burgundy in the course of the summer time. After which it transitions again to vivid crimson within the fall.
The tree itself is about six ft tall with notably massive leaves.
Whereas most dwarf A. palmatum cultivars have closely serrated leaves, this one seems like a extra conventional maple with its easy palmate foliage.
‘Rhode Island Pink’
When you love ‘Bloodgood’ however need one thing a bit extra petite, carry house a ‘Rhode Island Pink’ from Japanese Maples and Evergreens, obtainable for buy by way of Amazon.
11. Ryusen
‘Ryusen’ is one in all my favorites of all of the Japanese maples, dwarf or in any other case.
It’s extremely distinctive, and for a tree that’s so distinctive that even many gardening newbies can determine it, that’s saying a ton.
Whereas the inexperienced palmate leaves are stunning and all, it’s the expansion behavior that makes it stand out.
This A. palmatum grows to about eight ft tall however solely spreads a couple of ft vast, and the branches begin by rising up for a bit earlier than gracefully arching down.
This creates a waterfall impact that’s dramatic left to its personal gadgets, however you’ll be able to really practice it over an arbor or function it as an espalier as effectively.
As if that wasn’t sufficient, the foliage turns a mushy reddish-orange within the fall, making it all of the extra pretty.
‘Ryusen’
Make this distinctive possibility part of your backyard by nabbing one from Japanese Maple and Evergreens on Amazon.
12. Skeeter’s Broom
Bred from a witch’s broom discovered on the traditional, ever-popular A. palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ by Skeeter Rod, ‘Skeeter’s Broom’ has a slim, upright development behavior.
The foliage is extraordinarily bushy and dense, and begins out crimson within the spring earlier than turning into purple in the summertime and altering to a brighter crimson once more within the fall.
‘Skeeter’s Broom’
This cultivar tops out at a petite six or so ft nevertheless it by no means expands greater than three or 4 ft vast.
Wish to sweep up this stunner and convey it house to your backyard? Head to Nature Hills Nursery to seize a two- to three-foot tree in a #2 container.
13. Spring Delight
Some vegetation really stay as much as their title, and ‘Spring Delight’ is one in all them.
When you sit up for the enjoyment of vibrant spring shade every year, it’s worthwhile to add this A. palmatum var. dissectum to your backyard.
As soon as the hotter spring climate involves city, the leaf buds open to disclose beautiful neon inexperienced foliage tipped in vivid crimson. Within the fall, the leaves transition to yellow and orange.
‘Spring Delight’
The tree itself has a sleek, weeping behavior that highlights the distinctive coloring.
You will discover bushes obtainable in one- and three-gallon containers from Maple Ridge Nursery.
14. Summer season Gold
Japanese maples are recognized for shining brightest within the spring and fall, and most varieties fade to a extra subdued, if simply as pretty, shade within the warmth of the summer time.
These vegetation are happiest when it’s chilly, in spite of everything. However ‘Summer season Gold’ is at its peak when the times are lengthy.
Within the spring, this A. palmatum cultivar’s leaves are inexperienced with a crimson border. By summer time, they transition to a vibrant yellow-gold.
That’s particular sufficient as it’s, however this tree doesn’t burn or fade within the warmth both – even when it’s rising in full solar! If these vegetation, then that’s uncommon for a golden leaf kind.
Within the fall, the leaves flip vivid, flaming reddish-orange on a tree that stays below eight ft tall, normally nearer to 6.
‘Summer season Gold’
Oh yeah, and did we point out that is an upright kind? That’s exhausting to search out in dwarf cultivars!
Choose up a tree at Maple Ridge Nursery. Select from one- or three-gallon containers.
15. Tamukeyama
Good outdated ‘Tamukeyama’ is extraordinarily in style, and deservedly so. It’s warmth tolerant, vigorous, and hardy.
In the course of the spring and summer time, the leaves are burgundy earlier than shifting to vivid crimson within the fall. It’s a weeping kind that stays below eight ft tall. No marvel it has been a mainstay for hundreds of years!
‘Tamukeyama’
If you wish to be part of the storied membership, buy one to your backyard at Quick Rising Timber. They carry two- to three- or three- to four-foot-tall bushes.
16. Viridis
‘Viridis’ is the cultivar that first made me take discover of Japanese maples.
It’s a very head-turning possibility that contains a cascading kind which tops out at about 5 ft tall and vast, with vivid chartreuse leaves.
Within the fall, the closely serrated palmate leaves flip golden-yellow and orange.
When you like the kinds which have leaves so finely serrated and palmate that they appear like lace, you completely can’t go improper with ‘Viridis.’
The leaves are so delicate, they nearly look out of focus or like working inexperienced water at first look. Totally magical.
‘Viridis’
If you wish to nab a virtually mature three- to four-foot-tall tree to plant in a pot or develop in your backyard, go to Quick Rising Timber.
17. Waterfall
‘Waterfall’ has been recognized to develop as much as 12 ft tall after a protracted, very long time. However at 10 years, most have reached simply 5 ft at most.
Its development behavior lives as much as the title, and It has a pendulous, weeping kind made up of enormous inexperienced leaves that flip orange within the fall.
When you’re in search of an excellent container possibility, this one can’t be overwhelmed. Maintaining ‘Waterfall’ in a container may also constrict its dimension.
‘Waterfall’
If all this has you wanting round for the closest place to nab one for your self, head to Quick Rising Timber to select up a two- to three-foot-tall tree.
Small Doesn’t Must Imply Low-Influence
Dwarf Japanese maples are small in stature however enormous in influence. It’s exhausting to think about many vegetation that pack a lot into such a small bundle.
Whether or not you pair them with different species or allow them to shine all on their very own, these petite wonders will draw all the eye.
So what do you assume? Are you leaning in direction of a laceleaf? Do you like crimson or inexperienced? Are you in search of one thing upright or weeping? Share your plans within the remark part under.
Then, proceed your Japanese maple journey with the next guides:
© Ask the Consultants, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Initially printed January 6, 2023. Final up to date November 16, 2025. Product images by way of Quick Rising Timber, Japanese Maples and Evergreens, Maple Ridge Nursery, and Nature Hills Nursery. Uncredited images: Shutterstock.
