Japanese Maple Bonsai
Acer palmatum
📖 About this plant
Arguably the most iconic and desired bonsai species, Japanese maples are prized for their delicate, deeply lobed leaves that display stunning autumn colors ranging from fiery red and orange to golden yellow. Numerous cultivars offer varying leaf sizes, colors, and growth habits. The graceful, elegant branching structure and seasonal beauty make Japanese maple bonsai living works of art.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Partial shade to morning sun (3-5 hrs)
Every 2-3 days
Moderate to high (50-70%)
5-28°C
Well-draining, slightly acidic bonsai soil with akadama; pH 5.5-6.5
Low-nitrogen, balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks from spring to mid-summer; stop feeding by August to allow wood to harden before winter
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Japan, Korea, eastern Mongolia, southeast Russia
- 📏 Max height
- 15-30 cm (bonsai form); 6-10 meters in the wild
- 📐 Spread
- 15-30 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Red, Purple
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Red, Orange, Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Slow
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans and pets; sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seed (requires cold stratification); softwood cuttings in spring with rooting hormone; air layering in spring; grafting for specific cultivars
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic to humans and pets; sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals
Common issues
- Leaf scorch from wind, full sun, or dry conditions, Verticillium wilt fungal disease (devastating), Aphids on new spring growth, Winter dieback of fine branches, Frost damage on new spring growth
💡 Care tips
- Delicate dissected leaves create stunning autumn color displays,Requires protection from strong afternoon sun and drying winds,Root pruning must be done carefully as roots are fine and sensitive,Winter dormancy with cold temperatures is essential for health
