Japanese Maples are one of our most used small scale trees and accent for good reason. They are easy to grow, have great texture and fall color, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They range from 5′ to 30′ in size. There are four basic leaf types of these pretty trees:

-Palmate Leaf: These have a broad maple leaf like a palm, much like the Canadian flag.
-Dissect Leaf: These have a finely cut leaf, which is more intricate
-Red Leafed: Different hues of red and purple in both palmate and dissect varieties
-Green Leafed: These can often take a bit more direct sun than their red leafed counterparts

Japanese Maples are versatile, and make a great eye catching accent in the garden, especially in the fall. Many have sculptural or colored bark in the winter, so even when dormant, they still have a unique presence. These trees are usually in the moderate water use category for our climate in the Bay Area, but they don’t need to be over used, a few can make a statement. Many prefer a little shade especially in the hot afternoons, but many will adapt to even full sun, although their leaves may burn.

Here are 8 of our favorite easy to find maple species from our awesome Plantmaster Database. You can see more of these in the Plantmaster Interactive View.