Japanese Maples. You can grow both evergreen and deciduous trees in containers. So, if you want your red-leaved tree to stay burgundy or bronze color through the summer, the trick is to get it enough light (preferably early in the day) that the leaves don’t turn green, but not so much light as to scorch the leaves. There are a quite a few beautiful Japanese maple trees for zone 8 and even 9. Sun requirements and tolerances vary, depending on the cultivar, but generally speaking the red-leaved varieties will be more sensitive than the green-leaved varieties. Soil should be well drained, as seasonal rains can waterlog heavy clay soils, killing roots and your tree in the process. Growing Japanese maples from seed is exciting. Leaves tend to be palmate (hand-shaped with 5-7 “fingers”) and come in a wide range of colors and sizes. Over the last 30 or so years I have learned how to grow them here. Our picks are 'Bloodgood,' 'Emperor I,' 'Glowing Embers,' 'Sango Kaku,' and 'Seiryu.' This story ran originally in e-gardens March 24, 2016. Take heart, however, if you’re a zone 8 gardener. Dwarf— This grouping encompasses a range of heights, widths, colors, and shapes. Japanese maples in Texas need water – especially in spring and summer. They grow reasonably well in areas like northern Florida, but growing can be tricky by the time you reach the central 9b zone. Prune in the winter, after leaves have fallen, when you can see the branches clearly to make cuts to balance growth. Japanese Maple Tree (A. palmatum) Upright types grow slowly to 15 to 25 feet, often with multiple trunks. Each population is a relict of the last Ice Age, 10,000 years ago, and the localities in which they have found refuge and … It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can … This small tree is vigorous in growth and attains an upright shape, maturing at … This a “leaf by leaf decision”, and oftentimes a tree will have purple leaves on its outer branches, with green leaves on the lower interior branches. Japanese maples can be grown in pots. Growing Dwarf Japanese Maple Trees Selecting The Right Variety. Step 5:  Water well to make sure that the soil has settled in well around your new tree. Ask the nursery staff if the maple was grown locally as well. The Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) is a fabulous addition to any garden and will grow from 0.5m to 25m offering a splendour of colour with its distinctive-shaped leaves.Originally cultivated in Japan (hence the name), the striking Japanese Maple with its gnarly trunk and pretty leaves (called momiji – meaning baby hands) have been popular garden additions since the 1800s. Many varieties require partial shade for protection from the hot summer sun. There are hundreds of Japanese maple varieties that come in various sizes with a large assortment of leaf shapes and colors that range from shades of green to orange, red, purple, and variegated. A little bit of each is important, but too much can … Sound gardening practices, such as good air-circulation and good soil drainage should prevent any fungus problems. The key is to keep a balance of water and air in the root system with some moisture always available – like a wrung-out sponge after doing the dishes. It's a fast-growing large tree tolerant of our soils. But there is always that chance that one of your seedlings could the … The Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is native to the mountainous forests of Japan, but can be grown here in Texas with great success if given shade and water. When you repot, either cut back the roots or move to a larger pot, and give them fresh well-draining potting soil. Occasional use of Epsom salts, at the same rate as your fertilizer, can help release the nutrients to your maple, but typically isn't necessary. Protect it from full sun and drying winds. It's a fast-growing large tree tolerant of our soils. I would see beautiful photos of them in gardens from Oregon to Washington D.C., but thought that it was way too hot and dry here in central Texas to even try growing them, especially since the costs can … It’s a good idea to check the drainage hole occasionally to make sure it isn’t clogged. I keep them in morning sun only as I was warned our heat can … Learn how to grow Japanese maples in this helpful video from Helen, our resident plant doctor. All summer sprays must be applied early in the morning to prevent phytotoxicity. • Japanese maples are winter-hardy clear to the Canadian border, and that means that they can be grown outdoors in patio pots 12 months a year. Smaller species and dwarf varieties of evergreens usually do well as container grown plants. Yes, you can. Green, burgundy, or red leaves turn blazing yellow, orange, or scarlet in late fall. Germaine’s Gyration has an unusual spiraling growth habit and tiered foliage. There are a quite a few beautiful Japanese maple trees for zone 8 and even 9. If you must plant a maple in summer, water it deeply -- at least to a depth of 12 inches -- and mulch heavily. The first 2 summers are the most critical. Step 2:  Add some organic matter (pine bark mulch, landscaper’s mix, compost, etc.) Crimson queen is favored for its lace-like red foliage of fine cut leaves. How to look after Japanese maples. Smaller in scale and preferring shady and understory conditions, this tree is a hit with any gardener or homeowner. Keep them watered. Red maples are a popular landscape tree, and ones that you mention, which are cultivars of Acer rubrum, are spectacular. Watering once a month in the winter should be plenty. If you can keep them away from direct wind do so. We have many varieties of Japanese Maples available. New growth on varieties with red leaves will be more brilliant if they receive a little direct sun, either in the morning or the evening. At our nursery we have been serving and providing Japanese maples to both retail and wholesale customers in Texas for years. Many customers come in and ask for her by name for all their plant questions. Different varieties have different mature heights, and specimens should be chosen for the mature height desired. Its small stature, slow growth rate, fibrous root system and elegant good looks make it the prime candidate. Avoid planting them in highly alkaline or salty soils. Color, texture, balance, form, contrast – everything you could possibly want in a focal point for your landscape can be found in a Japanese maple. Scorched leaves and sunburned bark are not uncommon and stress the maple. For a complete listing of the available varieties, sizes and prices, check out Our Inventory. F or years Japanese maples were an elusive wonderment to me. The variety and small sizes of these cultivars make them great for filling in niches and nooks in the landscape. If you're in Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales or South Australia Nishiki Nursery, who specialise in grafted Japanese Maples, will help you source a local supplier who can find you the right Japanese Maple tree to suit your garden. Mixing in amendments at a 50/50 rate to a depth of 15 inches is especially helpful if you have clay soil. 2. Watch for squirrels chewing the bark in later summer. Its fall coloration is a bold orange. You shouldn't have to prune more than once or twice in a year. The two biggest concerns when planting the Japanese maple are sunlight and water. Even when dormant, the roots require moisture every couple of weeks, even after the trees are established. A standard Red Maple tree uses a lot of water, so you would have to water every day, and when they mature, they take in scores, maybe hundreds of gallons per day as do large Oak trees. Only prune in the dormant season (when the plant has shed its leaves) as at any other time of year the plant will bleed sap. In the recommended maple category, we have the following to pick from: bigtooth, Caddo, trident, shantung, paperbark, Mexican mountain and Japanese. Growing Japanese maples from seed is exciting. One of the best for pots is the ... Japanese maples are, as I assume you have figured out without my help, not from Texas. These varieties tend to be among the most sensitive to the heat here in Texas, so care must be taken to locate these trees in the proper spot and give them the protection and adequate irrigation they need to thrive here. Daily watering is required to allow them to root in well. There's nothing inherently wrong with them, but too much fertilizer can cause tip burn and a far less graceful growth habit. When you first plant a Japanese Maple, resist the urge to add fertilizer. Still, its better to avoid this if you can by shaping the tree as it grows. Early fall is the ideal time to plant trees in Texas, but choose wisely The first step as you start the planning is to select high quality trees. Take heart, however, if you’re a zone 8 gardener. Good luck. See our VARIETY SHEET here for just a sampling of what we carry. to the soil you just removed. Daily watering is required to allow them to root in well. Japanese Maples in Central Texas Japanese Maples can be an attractive addition to almost any landscape. This cultivar, also known as ‘Contorta’, is the largest-growing pendulous lace-leaf Japanese maple in existence. When it comes to digging and moving a tree, timing is everything. There are quite a few dwarf options to choose from when it comes to Japanese maple trees. From our experience the following Japanese maples are our top recommendations for growing in the state of Texas. JAPANESE MAPLES. Japanese maples do not like extreme drought conditions. Its name refers to the leaves, which has large teeth or saw-like ridges on the … When you water, you should see water running out from the bottom of the pot. Japanese maple (Acer plamatum) thrive in humid areas of USDA zones 6 through 8. The best times to fertilize maples are about 3 weeks before they start growing in the spring (late Feb or early March), early May, and as soon as the heat breaks in the fall (usually October). Maple Trees in Texas These beautiful maple trees are called “Lost” because there are a few small native populations in such places as the Ouachita Mountains, Fort Hood, Lost Maples Park and the Guadalupe Mountains in West Texas, all hundreds of miles apart and “lost” from other maples. In autumn the leaves turn bright red. It's a fast-growing large tree tolerant of our soils. There are hundreds of cultivars with nearly endless variations of size, shape, habit, color, etc.,  but Metro Maples only offers those varieties (currently numbering around 110) we’ve successfully grown in the North Texas climate. While Japanese maples will grow in most soils, they prefer slightly acidic soil. This means that many are suitable only for USDA plant hardiness zones 7 or below. 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