Alphabetical Plant Listing

Great Japanese Maples with Stunning Spring Color

Acer palmatum


Native to Japan, Korea, and China, Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum) include a rich variety of deciduous shrubs or small trees with graceful habits, elegantly cut leaves, and extraordinarily colorful foliage, particularly in fall when the leaves turn dazzling shades of golden-yellow, red-purple and bronze, before shedding to the ground.

Did you know that some varieties of Japanese Maples feature terrific spring colors too? Their lush, bright new leaves emerge with a variety of hues we usually expect in fall and create a spectacle of vibrant leaf color in the bleak landscape. If you are an unconditional lover of Japanese Maples, you may want to combine these spring cultivars with other varieties or species that possess stunning features to obtain a bold effect through multiple seasons. 

Here is a list of Acers that will help you create wonderful spring scenes and let you enjoy the season in a fabulous new way.

Guide Information

Hardiness 5 - 9
Heat Zones 2 - 8
Climate Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Acer - Maples
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Rabbit
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden
Compare All Acer - Maples Great Plant Combination Ideas with Acer - Maples Guides with Acer - Maples

crystaltmc / 123RF Stock Photo

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 5 - 9
Heat Zones 2 - 8
Climate Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Acer - Maples
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Rabbit
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden
Compare All Acer - Maples Great Plant Combination Ideas with Acer - Maples Guides with Acer - Maples

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.