Viridis Japanese maple

Sun

Partial shade, ideally morning sun and afternoon shade. Full sun is possible in cooler climates if the soil stays moist; protect from hot afternoon sun and drying winds.

Water

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

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Avoid waterlogged ground, very dry sand and strongly alkaline soil.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Spread

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Foliage

Deeply cut, lace-like green leaves, fresh light green when opening, turning yellow, orange and sometimes red in autumn. Bare, cascading branches remain visible in winter.

Growth

Slow; develops its broad framework 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 32 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, allowing enough space for the branches to spread naturally.
• Water deeply when the soil beneath the mulch begins to dry; do not leave roots standing in water.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Shelter from drying winds and protect newly opened leaves when a late frost is forecast.
• For containers, use a large pot with drainage holes and protect the root ball from severe winter freezing.

Pruning. Prune lightly in late summer, removing crossing shoots and small branches that spoil the natural cascading outline. Remove dead wood when noticed; avoid shearing, heavy cuts and spring pruning, which can bleed sap.

Spring

Plant while conditions are cool, water thoroughly and mulch without covering the trunk.

Early spring

Check container drainage and feed lightly if needed as growth begins.

Late spring

Protect tender new leaves from late frost and check young shoots for aphids.

Summer

Check soil moisture regularly and water deeply during dry weather.

Late summer

Make any light shaping cuts, retaining the layered, weeping framework.

Autumn

Replenish mulch and collect diseased fallen leaves; plant after leaf fall where winters are mild.

Winter

Protect container roots from prolonged freezing and check that the soil is draining freely.

• Use as a focal point in a sheltered courtyard, leaving room for its broad canopy.
• Plant above a low wall or on a gentle bank so the cascading branches can be seen clearly.
• Combine with ferns, hostas and Japanese forest grass in a lightly shaded woodland border.
• Place beside a pond or gravel area, with the roots in freely drained soil rather than saturated ground.
• Grow in a large container near seating where the finely cut leaves and autumn colour can be appreciated.

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

Plant it with: Japanese forest grass, Hostas, Hellebores, Azaleas, Autumn fern and Snowdrops.

Wildlife: Small spring flowers can attract insects, and the branching canopy provides shelter for small birds. Its wildlife value is generally lower than that of locally native trees.

• Leaf scorch: brown, crisp edges usually follow hot sun, drying wind or drought. Improve shelter, mulch and water consistently; damaged leaves will not recover.
• Aphids: clusters on soft shoots can curl leaves and leave sticky honeydew. Wash off small colonies with water and encourage natural predators.
• Verticillium wilt: sudden wilting or dieback of individual branches needs diagnosis. Remove dead wood, reduce drought stress and seek advice if decline continues; there is no reliable chemical cure.
• Root rot: persistently wet soil can cause poor growth and dieback. Correct drainage, avoid overwatering and never leave a container standing in water.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. It is not a food plant; this Japanese maple should not be confused with red maple, whose wilted leaves are poisonous to horses.

Where it spreads. Japanese maple has escaped cultivation and is reported as invasive in parts of the Mid-Atlantic United States. 'Viridis' is not usually an aggressive garden spreader, but remove unwanted seedlings, especially near woodland.

• Waterfall Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Waterfall')

  Another green laceleaf maple, generally with more strongly cascading branches and somewhat larger leaves. Young plants can be difficult to distinguish reliably without a label.

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

  Has a similar low, weeping outline and finely divided leaves, but its growing-season foliage is burgundy-red rather than green.

• Green Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)

  Typical seed-grown plants are more upright, with broader leaf lobes rather than the finely dissected foliage and cascading branches of 'Viridis'.

Palmatum refers to the hand-like shape of the leaves, while the Latin cultivar name 'Viridis' means green.

Propagation. Usually propagated by grafting onto Japanese maple rootstock, a skilled nursery technique. Seedlings do not reliably retain the foliage and weeping habit of 'Viridis'.

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.