Orangeola Japanese maple

Sun

Morning sun and afternoon shade are ideal. Full sun is suitable in cooler climates with consistent soil moisture; avoid hot afternoon sun and exposed, windy sites.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply during dry spells, especially during the first two growing seasons and when grown in a container.

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter; slightly acidic to neutral soil is best. Avoid waterlogged ground and very alkaline soil.

Height

6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m), sometimes taller with age

Spread

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Foliage

Deeply cut, lace-like leaves emerge orange-red, deepen towards reddish purple, and may become bronze-green during summer. Fresh orange-red shoots can contrast with older leaves; autumn foliage turns orange to scarlet.

Growth

Slow to moderate; eventual size depends on growing conditions and how the young tree was trained.

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 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

Invasive in

the US

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 the roots standing in water.
• 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 fertility is low; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Shelter opening leaves from drying winds and late frost.
• For container growing, use a pot with drainage holes and check moisture frequently during warm weather.

Pruning. Prune sparingly in late autumn or early winter while dormant, avoiding late winter and spring when cuts may bleed heavily. Remove dead, crossing or damaged branches and shoots arising below the graft; do not shear the cascading canopy.

Spring

Check soil moisture as leaves open, refresh mulch and give a light feed only if needed.

Late spring

Remove shoots growing from below the graft and inspect tender growth for aphids.

Summer

Water deeply during dry weather and check container plants frequently.

Early autumn

Maintain moisture during dry spells; avoid nitrogen feeding that encourages soft late growth.

Late autumn

Plant while soil is workable and well drained, and remove fallen leaves showing disease.

Early winter

Carry out minimal structural pruning and protect container roots from severe freezing.

• Use as a specimen beside a patio or path, allowing enough room for the spreading canopy.
• Place above a low wall or gentle slope so the cascading branches are visible.
• Pair with ferns, hostas and sedges in a sheltered woodland border.
• Grow in a large container as a courtyard focal point, with reliable watering.
• Set against dark evergreens to highlight spring growth and autumn colour.

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

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

Wildlife: Small flowers provide some food for insects, and the canopy offers shelter for small birds. It is not a major wildlife food plant.

• Leaf scorch: brown leaf edges usually follow drought, drying wind or strong afternoon sun. Improve shelter, mulch and water consistently; damaged leaves will not recover.
• Aphids: colonies can distort young shoots and leave sticky honeydew. Wash them off with water and encourage natural predators.
• Verticillium wilt: sudden wilting or branch dieback needs diagnosis, as drought and root damage can look similar. Remove dead wood, avoid stressing the roots and replace severely affected trees with a less susceptible plant.
• Root rot: persistent wetness can cause poor growth, wilting and root decay. Improve drainage and avoid overwatering; badly affected trees may need replacing.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats or dogs. Safety for horses is not well established; keep fallen leaves and prunings out of paddocks because some other maple species are seriously poisonous to horses.

Where it spreads. Japanese maple can self-seed and escape into woodland in parts of the eastern United States, including the Mid-Atlantic region. 'Orangeola' is not generally an aggressive spreader, but remove unwanted seedlings near natural areas.

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

  Also has finely cut leaves and a mounded habit, but generally holds a steadier deep red through summer rather than Orangeola's orange-red flushes and shifting bronze-green tones.

• Viridis Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Viridis')

  Has a similar cascading shape and finely divided leaves, but its spring and summer foliage is green rather than orange-red to reddish purple.

• Garnet Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Garnet')

  Usually has rich garnet-red foliage with less conspicuous orange new growth. Colour overlaps between cultivars, so a reliable nursery label is the best confirmation.

The botanical name palmatum refers to the hand-like arrangement of the leaf lobes.

Propagation. Usually propagated by grafting onto Japanese maple rootstock. Seedlings will not reliably retain Orangeola's colour or weeping habit; 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.