These are my tips about growing Japanese maples in containers. Five or six years ago, I bought a Japanese maple in a pot. Each year, it grows more beautiful.
Years ago I had a gardening magazine with an article about growing trees in containers. The idea intrigued me. But somewhere along the way, I lost or threw out the magazine.
A tree I’d always longed to grow is a Japanese maple tree. One day when I was at the nursery, I walked around and looked at them. The price for Japanese maple trees started around $69. 99.
So I walked around the nursery thinking about it. After some consideration that day, I purchased a Japanese maple tree to put on my patio.
I ordered a slightly larger pot and transplanted it into that pot. After that, I put it on a plant dolly so I could move it easily if I needed to.
During the summer, the leaves on my Japanese maple tree that I had grown in a pot told me that the sun was too strong. So I moved it into partial shade.
Then I moved to the apartment you see below. I have more of a shaded yard here, whereas I had so much sun at my last home.
The Japanese maple tree is happier here. It gets filtered sunlight in the morning hours and that seems to be just what it needs.
Japanese maple trees are admired for their graceful form brilliant foliage colors and ability to thrive in containers. With hundreds of cultivars available, choosing the best Japanese maple for your container can be overwhelming. In this article, we’ll explore the top picks for container growing and provide tips to help you succeed.
Why Choose a Japanese Maple for a Container?
Japanese maples are naturally smaller, slower-growing trees perfect for container culture. Their non-invasive roots won’t outgrow a pot quickly. Maples add beauty to patios, decks, and entryways in a compact space. Their colorful, delicate foliage provides stunning interest through three seasons.
Many compact and dwarf varieties of Japanese maple are ideal for container growing. Full-size trees can also grow in containers for some years before needing more space. You can conveniently relocate container maples to modify your landscape’s look.
Best Compact Japanese Maple Varieties for Containers
Acer palmatum ‘Shaina’
This dwarf, rounded maple stays under 2 feet tall and wide. The small, deeply cut green leaves emerge red in spring, turning brilliant crimson-red in fall ‘Shaina’ is one of the hardiest Japanese maples.
Acer palmatum ‘Mikawa yatsubusa’
Also called yatsubusa this extremely compact mounding maple grows just 1-2 feet tall and wide. The green summer foliage turns golden-orange to scarlet in fall. Its naturally compact form makes it perfect for containers.
Acer palmatum ‘Caperci Dwarf’
Rarely exceeding 2 feet tall and wide, this dwarf maple has red new growth that fades to green by summer. The fall color is a mix of orange and red. The naturally dense, mounded form suits container culture well.
Acer palmatum ‘Wilson’s Pink Dwarf’
This aptly named dwarf maple reaches just 1-3 feet tall and wide. Its new leaves emerge salmon pink, fade to green, then turn shades of orange and red in fall. The compact habit and striking leaf colors make it ideal for containers.
Acer palmatum ‘Beni-Maiko’
A mounded dwarf maple topping out around 3 feet tall and wide. ‘Beni-Maiko’ unfurls deep burgundy-red spring leaves that fade to speckled green and red in summer before turning red again in fall.
Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’
‘Butterfly’ boasts leaves edged and splashed in white and pink. This small upright maple grows slowly, topping out around 5 feet, with gracefully spreading branches. The variegated foliage provides unique interest in containers.
Weeping and Cascading Types for Pots
Weeping Japanese maples offer flowing cascades of lace-like foliage perfect for container planting. Try one of these compact varieties:
- Acer palmatum ‘Orangeola’ – Bright orange new leaves becoming green-orange in summer. Grows around 3 feet tall and wide.
- Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’ – Deep red lace-leaf foliage all season on a 2-4 feet tall and wide maple.
- Acer palmatum ‘Red Dragon’ – Red lace-leaf maple staying under 3 feet tall and wide. Holds leaf color well all season.
- Acer palmatum ‘Viridis’ – Delicate green laceleaf foliage. Grows wider than tall, around 3 feet wide by 1 foot tall.
Small Upright Varieties for Container Culture
Though they grow a bit larger than dwarf types, these upright Japanese maples will still thrive in containers for years before outgrowing their space.
- Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ – The coral bark maple glows with bright red winter twigs. Grows 10-15 feet tall.
- Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ – A classic red maple growing 15-20 feet tall. Keeps rich red color well.
- Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’ – Emerging bright gold and maturing green, with fall colors of orange and red. Grows about 10 feet tall.
Best Full Moon and Laceleaf Maples for Containers
Two popular maple species, Acer japonicum and Acer shirasawanum, offer unique large, rounded leaves well-suited to container growing:
- Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ – A Full Moon maple with huge, deeply cut green leaves that turn fiery shades of crimson, orange, and scarlet in fall. Grows 10-15 feet tall.
- Acer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’ – Huge maple leaves emerge tinged burnt orange and turn vibrant orange and red in fall. Grows 15 feet tall.
- Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ – Chartreuse foliage turns golden yellow to orange and red in autumn. Grows 10-15 feet tall.
Growing Japanese Maples Successfully in Containers
Follow these tips to keep your container-grown Japanese maple healthy:
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Select the right potting mix – Use a porous mix formulated for container plants, with ample drainage. Lightweight bonsai mixes work well.
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Water thoroughly -Japanese maples are drought sensitive. Water well and often enough to keep soil slightly moist but not saturated.
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Avoid hot afternoon sun – Dappled or morning sun is ideal. Afternoon sun can scorch delicate maple leaves.
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Fertilize lightly – Use a water-soluble fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during the growing season. Too much fertilizer can burn roots.
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Prune selectively – Prune in late winter to shape. Avoid heavy pruning that stimulates excessive new growth.
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Monitor for pests – Aphids and lace bugs can attack maples. Apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap sprays to control outbreaks.
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Protect from winter cold – Wrap or cover containers in winter to insulate roots from hard freezes. Move pots to an unheated garage or porch if possible.
With proper selection, care, and overwintering protection, Japanese maples grow readily in containers, adding artful beauty to patios, entryways, and other small space gardens. Their graceful form, colorful foliage, and adaptable nature make them ideal specimens for container culture.
How & When To Fertilize:
- Fertilize sparingly. When growth starts in the spring, use a water-based fertilizer that is diluted to half its strength.
- You should use a slow-release organic fertilizer made for acid-loving plants to feed your plants once or twice during the growing season.
- Important: Do not feed liquid in late fall or early spring.
How To Grow Japanese Maple Trees In Containers:
Now you may be wondering how to grow Japanese maples in pots. Here’s some important information about what your tree needs:
- If possible, put your potted tree in dappled or afternoon shade when it’s young.
- Protect your tree from strong winds
- Plant in soil that drains well and stays moist, but not too wet or too dry.
- When your tree is young, protect it from late spring frosts.
- Pick a dwarf variety that grows to be less than 10 feet tall. Larger plants will also work if you prune them annually.
- Pick a pot that is no bigger than twice the size of the tree’s roots.
- Japanese maples can’t live in soil that is too wet, so make sure the pot has a drainage hole.
- Good potting soil is fine, but don’t use one with slow-release fertilizer because it could burn the tree’s roots.
PRO TIPS FOR GROWING JAPANESE MAPLES IN CONTAINERS | MrMaple featuring AARON DRAGSETH
Can you grow a Japanese maple in a container?
There are lots of reasons to grow a Japanese maple in a container. You can add some height to a garden or grow a tree on an urban apartment balcony, for starters. Regardless of your motivation, the process is the same for planting and caring for these marvelous trees. To help you make it happen, here’s what we’ll discuss in the coming guide:
What is the best pot for Japanese maples?
The best pot for Japanese maples should provide adequate space for the tree’s shallow root system, have good drainage, and be sturdy enough to support the tree. These are the top things we look for when selecting a pot for Japanese maples: Size: Opt for a pot that is at least 2-3 times larger than the tree’s root ball.
Are Japanese maple trees good for landscapes?
Ideal for larger containers and small landscapes. Ideal for very large containers and small landscapes. With their weeping branches and intense colors, Japanese maples are some of the most stunning ornamental trees for SoCal landscapes. Learn More!
Can you move a potted Japanese maple indoors?
Technically, yes, you can move your potted Japanese maple indoors. Japanese maples do not always thrive in indoor settings, and there are a few challenges you’ll need to consider before moving you plant inside: Limited Light: Providing adequate light for Japanese maples indoors can be difficult.
