Japanese Maple Trees
If you want instant artistry in the landscape, you want a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum). From laceleaf weepers that spill like waterfalls to upright palmatums with fiery fall tones, these trees bring four-season beauty in compact footprints. We curate garden-proven cultivars for leaf color, branching character, and real-world vigor—so what you plant is what you’ll enjoy for decades.
When you buy Japanese maple trees online from Garden Goods Direct, you get nursery-grown, zone-appropriate stock with honest sizing, clear sun/shade guidance, and straightforward planting tips on all of our product pages—all backed by our "We Grow Together" Promise.
Why Choose Japanese Maples: Living Sculpture, Luxe Color, Compact Footprints
Japanese maples offer museum-quality texture with minimal maintenance. Expect delicate, dissected foliage (laceleaf types) or clean palmate leaves (upright forms) that shift through spring flush, summer saturation, and blazing fall color. Their modest size fits small gardens, courtyards, patios, and foundation beds where larger trees overwhelm.
Forms & Foliage That Perform: Upright Palmatum, Weeping Laceleaf & Dwarf Gems
Upright Palmatum: Architectural canopies, strong trunks, bold fall reds/oranges—great as specimens or entry anchors.
Weeping Laceleaf (Dissectum): Cascading mounds with filigree leaves—perfect for boulders, water features, and low walls.
Dwarf/Container Types: Slow-growing selections for pots and tight spaces, offering year-round interest right at eye level.
Color Through the Seasons: Spring Flush to Autumn Fire (and Winter Bark)
New growth often emerges in shades of peach, coral, or cherry, maturing to emerald, burgundy, or near-black by summer. Come fall, foliage ignites in scarlet, ember orange, and radiant gold. Many cultivars exhibit ornamental bark and branch structures, creating subtle winter drama against evergreens or snow.
Design That Works: Front-Entry Statements, Waterfall Edges & Container Showpieces
Front Entry Focal: Flank a walkway with an upright selection and underplant with shade perennials for layered texture.
Water & Stone: Let a laceleaf spill over rock or a retaining wall to echo natural cascades.
Container Couture: Use dwarfs in large planters with fine-textured companions (heuchera, carex) to keep the spotlight on leaves.
Japanese Maple Planting & Care Playbook: Sun, Soil, Water & Pruning Made Simple
Planting: Plant in morning sun + afternoon shade (full sun is possible in cooler zones with even moisture). Provide well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Set the root flare at or slightly above grade, backfill with native soil, water thoroughly, and mulch 2–3 inches (off the trunk).
Watering: Maintain even moisture—especially during the first two seasons—to prevent leaf scorch.
Pruning: Minimal—tip-clean in late winter to refine structure; avoid hard cuts in summer. Protect from hot, reflected sunlight and drying winds for optimal leaf quality.
Complete the look with Evergreen Shrubs as a backdrop, Groundcovers for low-maintenance texture, and Pollinator Plants to add seasonal interest around your focal tree.