When considering a new addition to your landscape, a Japanese maple will fit almost any need. There are more than 300 cultivars, ranging from extreme dwarf with tiny leaves to large, bold, upright types with large leaves.
Few garden plants compare to Japanese maples for their pure display of color, variation of form, and awe-inspiring beauty. In spring they bring subtle, unusual texture to the early garden as leaves emerge in colors of burgundy, pink, gold and crimson, slowly fading to summer green. Then, in the fall, the fireworks begin.
Despite appearing delicate and fussy, the Japanese maple is easy to grow and care for. Cold hardiness varies from one cultivar to another, but most grow well in zones 5-8 (Smith County, TX is zone 7b/8a).
Japanese maples grow slowly to only 10-20 feet tall, making them excellent choices for small spaces and large containers. Here in the South, choose a site with partial shade and a position where you can easily view the splendor of this magnificent tree.
Belinda Ferrell, Smith County Master Gardener intern
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