Fireglow Japanese maple

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; morning sun and afternoon shade are safest in hot climates. Shelter from drying winds.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged, especially during the first two growing seasons. Established trees still need deep watering during prolonged dry weather.

Soil

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Avoid waterlogged ground and very dry, shallow soil.

Height

10-20 ft (3-6 m), depending on conditions and age

Spread

10-15 ft (3-4.5 m)

Foliage

Palm-shaped leaves with five to seven pointed lobes; bright red in spring, deep red to burgundy through summer, then scarlet in autumn. Leaves may become greener in heavy shade.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2.1 m)

3. After 2 years

   7 ft (2.2 m)

4. After 3 years

   8 ft (2.3 m)

5. After 5 years

   8 ft (2.5 m)

About 26 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the root flare at soil level and keep any graft union above the soil.
• Water slowly over the root zone during dry spells; check container-grown trees frequently in warm weather.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or soil is poor; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Protect young foliage from late frost and shelter the tree from hot, drying winds.
• For container growing, use a pot with drainage holes and a loam-based potting mix.

Pruning. Prune sparingly in mid- to late summer, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches and any shoots arising below the graft. Avoid heavy pruning and late-winter or early-spring cuts, which can bleed sap.

Spring

Refresh mulch and check soil moisture as new leaves open.

Late spring

Protect tender new growth if a late frost is forecast.

Summer

Water deeply during dry periods and check container plants frequently.

Mid- to late summer

Remove damaged or crossing branches if needed; retain the natural branching shape.

Autumn

Plant while the soil is moist and workable, except where severe winters make spring planting safer.

Winter

Protect container roots from prolonged freezing and check that drainage holes remain clear.

• Use as a single specimen where sunlight can shine through the red leaves.
• Plant beside a sheltered patio or courtyard, allowing room for the mature crown.
• Combine with ferns, hostas and green groundcovers for a contrasting woodland planting.
• Place beside a path or pond where its branching shape and autumn colour can be seen closely.
• Grow in a large container as a focal point, with reliable watering and root protection in cold regions.

Garden styles it suits: Japanese, Zen dry garden, Woodland, Modern courtyard, Autumn colour and Small-space.

Plant it with: Hostas, Japanese painted ferns, Hakone grass, Epimediums, Camellias and Snowdrops.

Wildlife: Small spring flowers offer some food for insects, and the branching crown provides shelter for small birds. It generally supports fewer native insects than locally native maples.

• Leaf scorch: brown leaf edges usually follow drought, hot afternoon sun or drying wind. Water deeply, mulch and provide afternoon shade in hot locations.
• Verticillium wilt: sudden wilting or branch dieback can indicate this soilborne disease. Seek a diagnosis, remove dead wood and avoid planting another susceptible tree in the same soil if confirmed.
• Root rot: yellowing foliage and dieback can result from persistently wet soil. Improve drainage and avoid standing water in pots or around roots.
• Aphids: colonies on soft shoots may cause curled leaves and sticky honeydew. Wash them off with water and encourage ladybirds and other predators.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats or dogs; no part is generally recognised as poisonous to them. Horse-specific safety information is limited, so keep leaves and seeds out of grazing areas rather than assuming safety from other pets; some other maple species can cause fatal poisoning in horses.

• Bloodgood Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood')

  Usually grows larger and has darker burgundy foliage; 'Fireglow' tends to be smaller with a brighter, more translucent red leaf. Young trees can be difficult to distinguish without a reliable label.

• Emperor I Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Wolff')

  Usually becomes a larger tree and is noted for opening its leaves relatively late in spring. Leaf colour overlaps with 'Fireglow', so a nursery label is the most reliable distinction.

• Crimson Queen Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Crimson Queen')

  Has finely divided, lace-like leaves and a low, weeping habit, unlike the broader leaf lobes and upright growth of 'Fireglow'.

Acer is the Latin name for maple, palmatum refers to the hand-shaped leaves, and 'Fireglow' describes the luminous red foliage.

Propagation. Usually propagated by grafting onto Japanese maple rootstock to preserve the cultivar. Seedlings do not reliably retain 'Fireglow' characteristics; cuttings can be difficult to root.

Accepted botanical name

Acer palmatum

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Japan and Korea.

Measured

Soil pH 6.5 to 7. Average height 700 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.