Japanese Maples: Japanese Maple Selection Guide, 1 by mattlwfowler

mattlwfowler wrote:
Since there are around 1000 cultivars of Japanese Maples available, I’ve created this basic guide to help people that are unfamiliar with the trees decide which tree to choose.

The following is a SIMPLIFIED list of characteristics commonly important in selecting Japanese Maples:

Fall Color: Red, Orange, or Yellow

Spring Color: Purple and Red, Orange and Yellow, Green, Variegated

Habit or Shape: Upright and Vase shaped, Weeping, Shrubby

Leaf Shape or Type: Palmatum, Dissectum, Linearilobum, Other

Tree Size: Dwarf, Medium, Large

Type of Bark: Normal, Coral, Rough

If you would like help selecting a cultivar, simply list the characteristics that are more important below.

Also, keep in mind that many of these characteristics can be dependent on environment. If you live in colder or hotter regions this should be addressed. Generally JMs don't do as well in full sun and only certain varieties can tolerate it without some leaf burn. This should be indicated if this will be a problem.

I have included an image that depicts some of these basic characteristics.


This message was edited Aug 1, 2007 6:51 PM

This message was edited Aug 1, 2007 6:55 PM