Are Japanese Maple Trees Hard Maple or Soft Maple?

Japanese maples come in many varieties.

According to Clemson University, the Japanese maple grows slowly (10 to 15 feet in 15 years), and slow-growing maples have hard wood.

Description

Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) comes in hundreds of cultivated varieties (cultivars). Some cultivars grow only 6 to 8 feet tall, while some wild varieties may reach 40 to 50 feet. Some of the trees are broader than they are tall.

Groups

Japanese maples are divided into two groups: non-dissected (Acer palmatum var. atropurpureum) and dissected (Acer palmatum var. dissectum atropurpureum). Dissected Japanese maples are compact, low-growing shrubs. Examples include Crimson Queen, Waterfall and Inaba Shidare. Non-dissected Japanese maple trees have dark red-purple leaves in spring and fall that fade to bronze-green in the summer heat. Examples include Bloodgood and Burgundy Lace.

Growing

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, the perfect soil conditions to grow Japanese maples is slightly acidic, sandy, well-drained loam with a lot of organic matter. However, you can grow the trees in other soils, as long as they are not overly wet, too dry or very alkaline.

References

• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Maple
• Royal Horticultural Society: Japanese Maple