Red Leaf Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Red’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-8b Find Your Zone

Height at Maturity: 15-20′

Width at Maturity: 15-20′

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Broad

Growth Rate: Moderate

Foliage Color in Spring: Deep Burgundy-Red

Foliage Color in Summer: Green with Burgundy tones

Foliage Color in Fall: Bright Red

Light Needs: 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

Acer palmatum ‘Atroprurpureum’ is the original red leaved Japanese Maple, and a faster grower than most of its hybrid cousins with an upright habit to 15 to 20 feet tall and equally as wide. The deep purplish-red foliage holds its color well throughout spring turning to green with a red cast throughout summer, then intensifying in color to a flaming bright red in fall. It tolerates full sun however, as with many other Japanese Maples, will appreciate some afternoon shade or filtered sun.

Landscape & Garden Uses

To showcase its magnificence and beauty, the Red 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 plant one on both sides of an entryway to accentuate the entrance.

Suggested Spacing: At least 25 feet for space between trees

Container culture can extend the useful range of Japanese Maples. They are extremely easy to grow in containers, a practice taken to its most extreme form in the art of bonsai. Click on the link below under Helpful Articles for Japanese Maple container planting instructions.

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 groundcovers that won’t interfere at all with your tree.

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a, where this Japanese Maple variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Though delicate looking, Japanese Maples are actually very tough and long-lived trees. They 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 the Red Japanese Maple prefers to be grown in similar conditions. That said, you can find a complete listing of our sun-tolerant Japanese Maple varieties here, of which the Red Japanese Maple 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!

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We purchased a one gallon sized starter tree. It’s in the ground and growing. We are looking forward to when it is a fully developed beautiful tree. It arrived securely packaged with planting instructions. It arrived in a timely manner.—————————————————We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

I am very pleased with everything I have ordered from Wilson Bros Gardens. I have a thing for landscaping and due to health issues, I have no and low and behold, with new knees and my husband helping, I’m good to go! What thrill! I started shopping online this year and have already ordered several times and have NEVER been disappointed. I ordered 22 hostas and ferns that were dormant and every one has woke up but one and I’m sure it will. I was impressed to find the shipping was included in the price and what a selection of varieties and sizes! They were very well packed for shipping and the shrubs themselves were healthy and of a good size. This Japanese maple was not up to their highest standard so they offered it for $29! I could not see anything wrong with the shape, only a little dirt seemed to be missing, but it is very healthy and I am thrilled!
I would not HESITATE to order from Wilson Brothers Gardens! I am thrilled with the shipping being included in price, the sizes available and the variety! i check back often to see what is new!
Thanks guys! Keep up the good work!——————————————–Hope you enjoy it for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. 🙂 – Beth | WBG

Of course this did not arrive as a bushy plant. It is tall (more than 5′) very well packaged and in great shape. It is doing very well, 4 weeks later, and I have no regrets. I know how to make it thrive and get more bushy. I’m very happy with this and have no complaints.——————WBG Reply: Hi Massimo, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Red Japanese Maple Acer Palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

I was looking for a plant to stand out in my garden. The Japanese Maple arrived in good condition and looks healthy. I have ordered several plants from Wilson Brothers and have never been disappointed. ——————- WBG Reply: Hi Paula – Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review and for the compliments. Glad to hear you’ve never been disappointed, but do let us know if there’s ever a problem. We stand behind every plant we ship. Hope you enjoy your beautiful Red Japanese Maple tree for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros