Emperor 1 Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Emperor 1’

Other Names: Red Emperor Japanese Maple

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5-9 Find Your Zone

Height at Maturity: 15′

Width at Maturity: 15′

Spacing: At least 18′ for space between trees

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Broad

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast

Foliage Color in Spring: Purplish-Red

Foliage Color in Summer: Burgundy-Red

Foliage Color in Fall: Scarlet-Red

Light Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average, moderately drought tolerant when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Silty (Condition heavy clay soils when planting)

Drainage: Well drained soil is a must!

Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.0 is ideal

Maintenance: Low

Resistances: Deer – more info, Heat Tolerant, Insect Resistant, Sun Tolerant

Description

One of our favorites of the upright red-leaved Japanese Maple cultivars, ‘Emperor 1’ is a vigorous grower to around 15 feet tall and equally as wide, making it a perfect fit for small to medium sized spaces or containers. In spring, the leaves emerge a very dark maroon with a sheen that sparkles in the sun. Foliage remains dark red through summer with new leaves emerging bright red. With the arrival of cooler temperatures in fall the leaves transition to a brilliant scarlet. Extremely cold and heat tolerant for a Japanese maple, gardeners in USDA Zones 5a to 9b can enjoy this beauty.

Landscape & Garden Uses

To showcase its magnificence and beauty, Emperor 1 Japanese Maple is best used in the landscape as a focal point specimen to draw attention to a specific area of the home or landscape. That said, you can plant them in groupings of three or use two to frame an entryway.

Spacing: At least 18 feet apart for space between trees

Note: One Japanese Maple can make a landscape…that is if you don’t overcrowd it with other trees and plants. Therefore, when selecting companions to plant under or around your Japanese Maple, make sure to select low-growing shrubs or groundcover plants that won’t interfere at all with your tree.

Growing Preferences

Though delicate looking, Japanese Maples are actually very tough and long-lived trees that are very easy to grow. Container culture can extend their useful range. They are extremely easy to grow in containers, a practice taken to its most extreme form in the art of bonsai.

In their natural habitat, Japanese Maples are understory trees, growing in dappled forest sunlight at the edges of woodlands. Ideally they prefer to be grown in similar conditions. That said, you can find a complete listing of our sun-tolerant Japanese Maple varieties here, of which Emperor 1 is one.

Most any average garden soil will grow Japanese Maples. They prefer a moist but well-drained soil rich in organic matter. As with so many other ornamental plants and trees, constantly soggy or wet soil can be problematic. So make sure to plant your Japanese Maple in a well-drained site.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Japanese Maple trees.

How To Plant A Japanese Maple Tree In The Ground

How to Plant A Japanese Maple Tree In A Pot

How To Fertilize And Water A Japanese Maple Tree

How To Prune A Japanese Maple

Plant Long & Prosper!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us!

Received this tree quickly and in great condition. I always find the products from Wilson Brothers to be packaged well with the plants always arriving with adequate moisture in the pot.——————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I am extremely happy with my purchase! I called ahead of time to ask about tree size for the 2-gallon, and the staff was extremely nice and helpful. The tree was shipped very well and was healthy and strong on arrival. Considering I live in Florida, I planted it in a spot that receives limited morning and late afternoon sun. The tree is thriving so far. I highly recommend this tree and Wilson Bros!——————————-Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

Emperor 1 delivered as promised in excellent condition. Will continue to use Wilson Brothers.—————————WBG Reply: Hi William, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Emperor 1 Japanese Maple. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens