Twombly’s Red Sentinel Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Twombly’s Red Sentinel’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b Find Your Zone

Height at Maturity: 10-12′

Width at Maturity: 3-4′

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Narrow form

Growth Rate: Moderate

Foliage Color in Spring: Brilliant Crimson Red

Foliage Color in Summer: Burgundy

Foliage Color in Fall: Fiery Crimson Red

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

Water Needs: Average

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

With a statuesque, upright and columnar growth habit, the Twombly’s Red Sentinel Japanese Maple is sure to put an impressive exclamation point on your landscape. The color of this magnificent cultivar has Japanese written all over it. The leaves emerge a brilliant red in spring, contrasting wonderfully with the black branches and stems. The leaves then turn to burgundy in summer and end the season in fall a fiery, glowing crimson red. Growing only 3 to 4 feet wide with a height of only 10 to 12 feet makes it the perfect fit for smaller garden spaces and pots, planters and other containers.

Landscape & Garden Uses

To showcase its magnificence and beauty, Twombly’s 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 two to frame an entryway.

Suggested Spacing: At least 8 feet apart 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 6a, 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 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 Twombley’s Red Sentinel 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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Questions? Contact Us!

This is one of the most beautiful trees. I have ordered other items on line from several nurseries. This tree came pristine. I was shocked it was packed so well that the tree did not even looked disturbed. I planted it in 4 days and right now it looks fantastic. I love this nursery. Products are fantastic.—————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I’m loving the size, color, shape and good health of this specimen. I purchased a Twombly’s Red Sentinel last year but it died very quickly.
I’m so glad to have another.—————————————–Thanks for the photos! It’s lovely. Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

We got our tree quickly and in good shape. Love the color and looks great in the location. I would order from here again.——————————————————We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

We received this unique tree quickly and in good condition. I planted it the same day and though I have only had it a few days, I am expecting it to flourish. I am really excited to have a Japanese Maple that is different looking and will work well on the narrow north side of our house. Thank you Wilson Bros.!——————————–We are so glad you are pleased!! Thanks!! Beth | WBG

Very impressed with delivery packaging, timing and plants did not appear to be stressed. I request two with similar height and shape and received exactly what I wanted. Plants arrived healthy with lots of branching and leaf. Can’t wait to see them when they start to settle into their new home and thrive! They are in a new garden bed nestled amongst my new magnolia and little lime hydrangeas. Can’t wait to see them when all in bloom. They soften my brick wall and am so appreciative of your help and guidance with my selection!————————————–Hi Andrea, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Twombleys Red Sentinel Japanese Maple. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the wonderful review!!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

Tree arrived as scheduled in great condition. It went into the ground that day and has shown no signs of shock or stress. The shipping took about a week for arrival so would recommend overnight or two day shipping in the warmer months. Tree would not have shipped well in summer months.————————–Hi Barbara, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Twombleys Red Sentinel Japanese Maple. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

I purchased this Twombly’s Red Sentinel Japanese Maple a couple weeks ago. Photos were sent to me for my approval since it was the last one in stock. I liked what I saw and approved shipment. This little tree arrived in excellent condition, no lost or damaged leaves or branches and the soil was in tact. Great packaging. Communications were great and I am very pleased with my purchase. I’ll be shopping at Wilson Bros Gardens again. I hope this little tree likes in new home in it’s own private tree ring. ——– WBG Reply: Hi Ed – Thanks so much for all the compliments and for taking the time to provide your review. being that it was the last one, this Twombly’s was meant to be yours:-) Glad to here it’s liking its new home. Let us know when there’s anything else we can do for you. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

I bought two of these this summer. I tend to garden by suddenly “seeing” what would look good in a particular spot, so by the time I was inspired, most vendors were out of stock. Wilson Brothers came through with two very nice saplings, both of which have been so far impervious to heat and sun, despite being newly planted in two very different locations and soil types. I am very pleased with my purchase. ——- WBG reply: Hi Linda – Thanks for taking the time to provide your review. Glad to hear yours are doing well. We just started carrying the Twombly’s Red Sentinel Japanese Maple and it looks like we’ll be out of stock in no time. So we’re going to grow a lot more of them the next time around. I planted one three years ago in my north-central Georgia landscape and absolutely love it. It’s definitely got good heat and humidity tolerance. I like the narrow habit but it’s the blazing red foliage against the black branches that really hooked me. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens