Inaba-shidare Japanese maple

Sun

Partial shade or full sun in cooler climates. Give it morning sun and afternoon shade where summers are hot, and shelter from drying winds.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply during dry spells, especially during the first two growing seasons; containers need more frequent checks.

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, preferably slightly acidic. Avoid waterlogged ground and very dry, shallow soil.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Spread

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Foliage

Fine, deeply cut leaves emerge dark purple-red, remain burgundy through much of summer and turn crimson in autumn. Leaves may become greener in deep shade.

Growth

Slow to moderate; develops a broad crown over many years and may eventually exceed these dimensions.

Care needed

Medium

• 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 m)

3. After 2 years

   7 ft (2 m)

4. After 3 years

   7 ft (2 m)

5. After 5 years

   7 ft (2.1 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 the graft union above the soil.
• Water deeply when the upper soil begins to dry; do not leave roots standing in water.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or soil is poor; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Shelter young foliage from late frost and protect container roots during severe winter cold.

Pruning. Prune lightly in late summer, removing dead, damaged or rubbing branches and preserving the natural cascading framework. Avoid hard pruning and late-winter or spring cuts, which can bleed sap heavily.

Spring

Check emerging leaves during late frosts and cover small trees overnight with horticultural fleece when needed.

Spring

Refresh mulch and give a light feed only if needed; remove any shoots growing below the graft.

Summer

Check soil moisture regularly and water deeply during dry weather, especially in containers.

Late summer

Remove dead or crossing branches with small, selective cuts.

Autumn

Plant in mild regions while the soil is workable, leaving enough space for the mature spreading crown.

Winter

Move pots to a sheltered position and insulate the container where roots could freeze hard.

• Use as a specimen beside a patio or path, leaving room for the cascading branches.
• Plant above a low wall or gentle slope so the weeping outline can be seen clearly.
• Pair with green ferns and shade-tolerant groundcovers for contrasting colour and leaf texture.
• Grow in a large, well-drained container in a sheltered courtyard, with regular watering.
• Place against a plain wall or evergreen backdrop to show the branch structure in winter.

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

Plant it with: Japanese forest grass, Hostas, Epimediums, Japanese painted ferns, Camellias and Dwarf rhododendrons.

Wildlife: Small spring flowers provide some food for insects, and the branches offer shelter and perches for small birds. Its wildlife value is generally lower than that of locally native trees.

• Leaf scorch: brown, crisp leaf edges usually follow heat, drought or drying wind. Water the root zone consistently, mulch and provide afternoon shade.
• Verticillium wilt: sudden wilting or branch dieback needs professional diagnosis because drought can look similar. Remove dead wood; there is no reliable cure, and badly affected trees may need replacing.
• Root rot: persistent wet soil can cause declining growth and dieback. Improve drainage, stop overwatering and never leave a container standing in water.
• Aphids: colonies on young shoots can distort leaves and leave sticky honeydew. Wash them off with water and encourage natural predators; use insecticidal soap only if necessary.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is established as poisonous, though it is not a food plant. Do not confuse it with red maple, Acer rubrum, whose wilted leaves are dangerous to horses.

• Crimson Queen Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen')

  Usually forms a lower, more rounded mound with finer-looking foliage; Inaba-shidare tends to have a stronger, more upright framework beneath its cascading shoots.

• Tamukeyama Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Tamukeyama')

  Another dark red laceleaf maple with a cascading habit, often with more twisted leaf lobes. These cultivars overlap closely in appearance, so a reliable nursery label is the safest identification.

• Bloodgood Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood')

  Has an upright tree shape and broad, palm-shaped purple leaves rather than finely dissected leaves and cascading branches.

The species name palmatum refers to the hand-like arrangement of the leaf lobes, while the Japanese word shidare describes a weeping habit.

Propagation. Usually propagated by grafting onto Japanese maple rootstock. Seedlings do not reliably retain the cultivar's leaf colour or weeping habit; rooting cuttings can be difficult.

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.