Everything You Need to Know About Emperor Japanese Maple Trees

Emperor Japanese Maple trees dazzle all year-round. In spring and summer, their stunning foliage takes on a rich burgundy hue, before turning scarlet in fall and dropping in winter to reveal black-red bark. Emperor Japanese Maple trees’ leaves have skin with a translucent sheen, making them shine from within when the sun hits just right. These beauties make compact specimen plants perfect for smaller yards. Their exceptional cold-hardiness allows them to be grown in cooler climates.

Emperor Japanese Maple Trees at a Glance

• Showy, brilliant red foliage for three seasons
• Compact
• Disease-resistant
• Low-maintenance
• Cold-hardy
• Fast-growing

Appearance

Emperor Japanese Maple trees grow in an attractive upright form with a wide crown that doesn’t require pruning. Their leaves look like pointed, small-scale versions of traditional maple trees and look like an outstretched hand.

Emperor Japanese Maples are compact trees, growing to 12-15 feet tall with a 12-15 foot spread. Their small stature makes them a natural fit for smaller landscapes. Faster-growing than other maple varieties, Emperor Japanese Maple trees grow more than two feet per year before reaching their full height.

Hardiness Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones indicate the regions where plants can grow based on minimum winter temperatures. Emperor Japanese Maple trees grow in Zones 5-8, which cover most of the country, aside from the coldest regions.

Planting

The best time to plant your Emperor Japanese Maple tree is in spring or fall. We recommend taking these steps:

• Choose a planting site that receives partial shade to full sun. Their leaves are more bold when grown in partial shade.
• Clear away any weeds, turfgrass, or debris.
• Dig a hole the same depth as the container that your tree came in and three times the width.
• Begin backfilling the soil. When you reach halfway, water the hole well. Once the water has drained away, continue filling the hole. When the hole is filled, place a 2-3 inch layer of rich, organic mulch on top of the root zone, being mindful not to let it touch the trunk.
• Repeat this process each spring to help conserve moisture and insulate your tree from extreme cold temperatures.

Growing Conditions

Despite their elegant appearance, Emperor Japanese Maple trees are exceptionally low-maintenance, adaptable to a wide range of soils and not very picky about the amount of light they receive. Their leaves bud later in spring than other Japanese Maple varieties, allowing them to better withstand damage from late frosts.

Sun and shade

Emperor Japanese Maple trees thrive in partial shade, which leads to the boldest coloring. However, they can grow in full sun as well—just make sure they receive at least some dappled shade in warmer climates.

Soil

Emperor Japanese Maple trees are highly adaptable to a wide range of soils. However, they have a preference for well-drained, moist soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH level.

Watering

You’ll need to water your Emperor Japanese Maple well for the first few seasons, giving it water about once to twice a week. After that, only water once a week or whenever the soil loses its moisture. You can check this by inserting your index finger into the top two inches of the surrounding soil and testing to feel if it’s dry.

Fertilizing

Feed your Emperor Japanese Maple with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer in spring, before new growth emerges.

Pruning

Emperor Japanese Maple trees do not require pruning to maintain their rounded shape. If you notice any dead, damaged, or diseased limbs, prune them in winter when the tree is dormant—you never want to prune your Emperor Japanese Maple tree when the sap is running.

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