Gardening Trees, Shrubs & Vines Trees 18 of the Most Colorful Japanese Maple Trees for Your Yard These types of Japanese maples offer elegant forms and colorful foliage to the landscape. By Sheryl Geerts Sheryl Geerts Website Sheryl Geerts is an editor and author who has nearly three decades of writing and editing experience. She enjoys writing about garden, food, and home topics. Her bylines have appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, Allrecipes, Martha Stewart Living, and several other publications. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on January 24, 2023 Reviewed by Sylvia Duax Reviewed by Sylvia Duax Sylvia Duax has over 15 years of experience as a professional Horticulturist with expertise in: sustainable garden maintenance techniques; Southeastern U.S., especially in the mid-Atlantic regional gardening; native plants; wildlife gardening; small space, urban and container gardening and community engagement. Learn about BHG's Gardening Review Board Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Peter Krumhardt The elegant form and colorful foliage of Japanese maples can make a stunning focal point in the landscape. This type of maple grows smaller than other types and has more delicate, lacy foliage in a wide array of colors. Here are some favorite varieties, including dwarf Japanese maple, that feature a spectacle of vibrant leaf color. Note: Acer palmatum, a species of Japanese maple, is invasive in some parts of eastern U.S., Canada, and Hawaii so should not be planted in these areas. 01 of 18 Dissectum Atropurpureum Peter Krumhardt A classic Japanese maple, 'Dissectum Atropurpureum' bears deeply cut, feathery, red-purple leaves that turn crimson in fall. Plus it has graceful, weeping branches. Choose this variety if you're looking for a small-size red cut-leaf variety of Japanese maple. Name: Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Atropurpureum' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil Size: Up to 8 feet tall and wide Zones: 5-8 02 of 18 Coonara Pygmy Peter Krumhardt In spring, dwarf 'Coonara Pygmy' Japanese maple unveils its pink-tinged leaves. The pink blush fades in summer, but then in fall the leaves turn a brilliant shade of orange-red. Because of its small size, this maple is a tree you can grow in containers or small spaces. Name: Acer palmatum 'Coonara Pygmy' Growing Conditions: Part shade in moist, well-drained soil Size: 8 feet tall and wide Zones: 6-8 03 of 18 Green Cascade Peter Krumhardt Boasting lustrous, finely cut green foliage, 'Green Cascade' Japanese maple also has a delicate weeping habit. If not staked, it forms a flowing mound of foliage. In fall, its leaves turn shades of red and orange. Name: Acer japonicum 'Green Cascade' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in average moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 20 feet tall and 25 feet wide Zones: 5-7 04 of 18 Golden Full Moon Maple Peter Krumhardt An exceptionally beautiful tree, golden full moon maple features vibrant yellow leaves through the summer. If you're aiming to plant for fall color try 'Aureum'; its leaf tips develop red edges while its leaf center stays golden. Name: Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in medium moist, well-drained soil Size: 20 feet tall and wide Zones: 5-7 05 of 18 Autumn Moon Peter Krumhardt Like the golden full moon Japanese maple, 'Autumn Moon' features bright yellow leaves. But on this variety, the leaves bear decidedly pink tones. In fall, the leaves put on a show in shades of red, orange, and yellow. Name: Acer shirasawanum 'Autumn Moon' Growing Conditions: Part shade in moist, well-drained soil Size: 25 feet tall and wide Zones: 5-7 06 of 18 Hogyoku Peter Krumhardt A time-tested selection and mid-size Japanese maple tree, 'Hogyoku' bears green leaves that turn bright orange in autumn. It has a sturdy trunk and branches, and tolerates heat better than many other varieties. 'Hogyoku' is a good choice if you live in a climate with hot summers. Name: Acer palmatum 'Hogyoku' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil Size: Up to 18 feet tall and 15 feet wide Zones: 5-9 07 of 18 Beni Kawa Peter Krumhardt A tree for all seasons, 'Beni Kawa' features small green leaves that turn golden-yellow in fall. In winter, it really shines because of its bright red stems. This Japanese maple looks stunning against a backdrop of snow, so plant this tree to provide eye-catching winter interest. Name: Acer palmatum 'Beni Kawa' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, slightly acidic well-drained soil Size: Up to 15 feet tall and wide Zones: 5-9 08 of 18 Higasayama Peter Krumhardt A favorite for bonsai, 'Higasayama' offers pink buds that open into leaves colored in cream, green, and fuchsia. As the season progresses, this dwarf Japanese maple tree's leaves fade to green, then change to glowing shades of gold and yellow in autumn. If you're a fan of variegated foliage, this is the tree for you. Name: Acer palmatum 'Higasayama' Growing conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil Size: Up to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide Zones: 5-9 09 of 18 Emperor 1 Peter Krumhardt A favorite because of its dark purple-red foliage, Emperor 1 is a good choice for northern gardens. Its leaves open a bit later than most other trees, which helps it avoid potential damage from late spring frosts. This Japanese maple tree also offers brilliant scarlet-red fall color. Name: Acer palmatum 'Wolff' Emperor I Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil Size: Up to 15 feet tall and wide Zones: 5-9 10 of 18 Coral Bark Maple Marty Baldwin A good-size Japanese maple tree with multi-season appeal, 'Sango-kaku' (commonly called coral bark maple) features green leaves that turn brilliant yellow in fall. After the leaves drop, the tree's bark takes center stage with its bright coral-red color. This colorful maple tree is a sure way to add winter interest to your landscape. Name: Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil Size: Up to 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide Zones: 5-8 11 of 18 Suminagashi Mary Carolyn Pindar A fast-growing variety, 'Suminagashi' can gain a foot in height each year during its first decade. It offers deeply cut leaves and rich, purplish-red foliage that looks good all spring and summer. In fall, the graceful leaves turn bright crimson. Name: Acer palmatum 'Suminagashi' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil Size: 15 feet tall and wide Zones: 5-9 12 of 18 Bloodgood Peter Krumhardt One of the most popular Japanese maples, 'Bloodgood' offers deeply cut, purple-red leaves that hold their color well through the summer. In fall, the tree develops striking crimson-red color. This is the one for you if you're on the hunt for a time-tested and hardy tree. Name: Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil Size: Up to 20 feet tall and wide Zones: 5-8 13 of 18 Villa Taranto Peter Krumhardt Deeply cut, spidery leaves distinguish 'Villa Taranto'. This Japanese maple variety's foliage emerges pink in spring, then fades to bright green in summer. In autumn, the leaves on this compact tree again change, this time to beautiful golden yellow. Name: Acer palmatum 'Villa Taranto' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil Size: Up to 10 feet tall and 7 feet wide Zones: 5-8 14 of 18 Crimson Queen JANET MESIC-MACKIE A stunning variety of Japanese maple, 'Crimson Queen' offers weeping branches of beautiful reddish-purple foliage. In autumn, the finely cut leaves turn bright crimson. Name: Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil Size: Up to 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide Zones: 5-8 15 of 18 Beni Schichihenge JANET MESIC-MACKIE A smaller Japanese maple tree variety, 'Beni Schichihenge' offers blue-green leaves variegated in shades of pink and cream. In fall, the leaves change to exciting shades of orange and gold. It also tends to resist leaf scorch from hot, dry weather better than many other varieties. Name: Acer palmatum 'Beni Schichihenge' Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: 8 feet tall and wide Zones: 6-9 16 of 18 Aconitifolium Mary Carolyn Pindar One of the most beautiful Japanese maples, 'Aconitifolium' offers deeply cut, fern-like green foliage that turns shades of red, orange, and yellow in fall. This tree, also called 'Maiku Jaku', changes up the beautiful texture you've come to expect from most Japanese maples. Name: Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 10 feet tall and wide Zones: 5-7 17 of 18 Vitifolium Peter Krumhardt A big, sturdy Japanese maple tree, 'Vitifolium' offers wide, deep green leaves that turn bright shades of gold, yellow, orange, and scarlet in autumn. If you live in a climate that has hot summers and cold winters, this is the Japanese maple tree for you. Name: Acer japonicum 'Vitifolium' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 15 feet tall and wide Zones: 5-7 18 of 18 Caperci Dwarf Susan Roth A small, slow-growing Japanese maple tree, 'Caperci Dwarf' offers pink-tinged new growth that fades to green as the season progresses. Then in fall, the green leaves turn a shade of warm, glowing gold. This is a perfect tree for small spaces and containers. Name: Acer palmatum 'Caperci Dwarf' Growing Conditions: Part shade in moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide Zones: 6-8 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit