Japanese Maple
Grown above all for its brilliant autumn foliage - yellow through orange to intense red, best developed after a properly cold winter. Size varies hugely by cultivar, from dwarf forms under 2m to specimens reaching 6-8m, so check the variety before planting. Prefers full sun in cooler climates but wants protection from hot afternoon sun in warmer parts of New Zealand, and needs reliable moisture (without waterlogging) through summer. Verticillium wilt is an incurable, soil-borne fungal disease Japanese maples are particularly susceptible to - avoid planting where a previously affected plant grew.
- Sun
- partial sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 200cm
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 4m
- Evergreen
- No, deciduous
- Common diseases
- Verticillium wilt, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
- Common pests
- Aphids, Scale insects, Spider mites
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: March-April and September-October. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-October.
Growing stages
Planting & establishmentFirst few months
- Prefers full sun in cooler climates but wants protection from hot afternoon sun in warmer parts of NZ
- Needs reliable moisture through summer, without waterlogging
- Avoid planting where a previously verticillium-wilt-affected plant grew; this incurable soil-borne disease has no cure
Early growthFirst 1-2 years
- Watch for aphids, scale insects and spider mites on new growth
- Size varies hugely by cultivar, from dwarf forms under 2m to specimens reaching 6-8m, so check the variety matches the space
Autumn colour
- Brilliant yellow through orange to intense red foliage develops best after a properly cold winter
- Leaf spot and powdery mildew can appear on foliage; monitor through the growing season
- Sudden wilting or dieback can signal verticillium wilt, which has no cure
Maturity
- Continue providing reliable summer moisture without waterlogging as the tree fills out
- Established trees still benefit from afternoon shade in warmer parts of the country