
Plants That Grow Well Around Japanese Maple Trees
- Stick to Floral Interest. Begonias (Begonia spp.) and impatiens (Impatiens spp.) are commonly grown as annuals but there...
- Consider Plant Texture. Plant ferns among the flowering plants to add texture and greenery. The common maidenhair fern (...
- Floral and Foliar Interest. Plant alumroot (Heuchera spp.) and plantain...
Full Answer
How should I plant and care for a Japanese maple?
Plant your Japanese maple where it will be protected from strong winds (which can dry out the soil quickly), and avoid hot and arid sites. Extreme heat can lead to distress; keep the soil around the tree mulched and adequately watered during hot weather to minimize damage.
How to find companion plants for Japanese maples?
Japanese Maple Companion Plants
- Grasses. Dwarf mondo grass, hakone and lirope are ornamental grasses that make perfect companions for Japanes maple because of their size and graceful appearance.
- Ground Covers. Ground covers serve several purposes in the garden and are ideal for growing under trees such as Japanese maples.
- Perennials. ...
- Evergreen And Woody Plants. ...
When to plant a Japanese maple?
Where Should You Plant A Japanese Maple Tree – A Full Guide
- Basic Things To Know About A Japanese Maple Tree. Heat should be considered for the effect it on the Japanese Maples leave color. ...
- Planting For Maple Trees By Season. Autumn is the best time to plant your Japanese Maple tree and ideally you should plant it a month before the ground freezes.
- Propagating Japanese Maple Trees. ...
- Final Thoughts. ...
Should a Japanese maple be planted in sun or shade?
Nearly all Japanese maples can handle growing in the shade or getting morning sun and afternoon shade. For planting trees in the sun it is important to make sure you are getting a selection that can handle full sun in your area. We have plenty of Japanese maples that grow and do well in full sun in Zone 8.

What can I plant under my Japanese maple?
Planting Next to Japanese Maples Plants that love acid soils can be good Japanese maple companions. You might consider planting begonias, rhododendrons, or gardenias. Begonia cultivars grow happily in USDA zones 6 through 11, producing large blossoms in a vast array of colors.
What grows well under a maple tree?
You need smaller plants with shallow roots, are drought tolerant, and love shade when planting under maple trees. The best companion plants to pair with maple trees include hellebore, vinca minor, sedum, ferns, daffodils, lilly of the valley, daylilies, tulips, crocus, and Canadian wild ginger.
Can you plant hostas under a Japanese maple?
They'll slowly decline because the maple tree has such a fibrous root mat it will choke out anything, and it's really good at choking out hostas,” he says. Japanese maples, however, are OK.
Can I put rocks around a Japanese maple?
2:1210:36Can I Use Rocks At The Base Of My Japanese Maple? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd it definitely can be done and it can be done in a way that can give you more low maintenance forMoreAnd it definitely can be done and it can be done in a way that can give you more low maintenance for your garden.
How do you plant flowers under a maple tree?
To plant around exposed roots, use small plants at first that can develop in the spaces between the roots. Adding a large amount of soil to the area will suffocate the trees' roots. Mulch the area after planting with a couple inches of loose compost or bark dust.
Can you grow grass under maple trees?
Different grass species thrive in different climates and environments. However, it is always smart to plant shade-tolerant grasses under maple trees. This means that the grass has a better chance of getting the sun it needs to thrive. An example of a shade-tolerant grass species is Fine Fescue.
Can you plant two Japanese maples together?
Prized by gardeners for their lacy texture and spectacular fall colors, some varieties of Japanese Maples feature sumptuous spring colors too. Combining both types of Japanese Maples would extend their colorful impact in the garden and provide double the pleasure.
Do birds like Japanese maple trees?
THEY ATTRACT ALL KINDS OF LIFE TO THE GARDEN Japanese maples are monoecious meaning they have both male and female flowers on the same plant. These flowers are inconspicuous and small, and though they do not attract insects, grouse, quail, and many songbirds adore them.
How close can you plant hostas to a tree?
Dig a hole in the center of the planting area slightly larger than the nursery pot. Slide the hostas out of the pots and place them in the planting holes. Space multiple plants 1 to 3 feet apart to give them room to grow and fill out. Plant dwarf varieties 1/2 a foot to 1 foot apart.
How do you landscape a Japanese maple?
0:051:41Landscaping Tips with Japanese Maples and Evergreens - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipArea if you're using one of these lace leaf varieties. Because the leaf is so fine it can get windMoreArea if you're using one of these lace leaf varieties. Because the leaf is so fine it can get wind burnt pretty easily. So don't put this in a wind tunnel. And give everything plenty of room to grow.
Should I put mulch around my Japanese maple?
Whether you are planting a new Japanese maple, or caring for an established tree, you'll want to add a layer of composted mulch or another organic material around the base of your tree in the spring and fall. Not only does this look great, but it prevents weeds, gives them essential nutrients, and insulates the roots.
How do you landscape a maple tree?
Maples grow a dense, low crown. Removing lower branches when they are 3 to 4 inches in diameter allows more air to circulate through the crown and sunlight to shine underneath it. As long as a proportion of two-thirds crown to one-third trunk is maintained, up to 10 feet of lower branches can go.
How do you grow grass under a large maple tree?
Most turfgrasses have a difficult time growing in the vicinity of large shade trees. If your efforts to grow turfgrass are unsuccessful, there are alternatives. Areas around and beneath trees can be mulched with wood chips or shredded bark. Planting a shade tolerant groundcover in the area is another possibility.
How do you landscape a tree with exposed roots?
Mulch or a wood byproduct is the quickest and easiest way to cover exposed tree roots. Rim the circumference of the tree with a three to five-inch high strip of edging or brick. Once in place, cover the roots with three to four inches of mulch or just enough to cover the roots.
Is it OK to plant hostas under trees?
Plants average 1 to 2 1/2 feet tall but some large varieties grow up to 4 feet tall and some miniatures remain only 3 to 4 inches tall for the duration of their life. Hostas thrive under threes and shrubs, where they get some morning and evening light but are shaded for most of the day.
Is it OK to plant flowers around a tree?
What about planting flowers around a tree? Not a good idea, Taylor says. Any time you dig in a tree's root zone — especially in the area under its branches — you are slicing the roots it needs to survive. If you plant annual flowers under a tree, you will be cutting many roots every time you plant, year after year.
Where do Japanese maples grow?
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 the fall when the leaves warm up to dazzling shades of golden-yellow, red-purple and bronze, before shedding to the ground.
What is the best Japanese maple?
Regarded as one of the best purple-leaved Japanese Maples, award-winning Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' is a large deciduous shrub or small rounded tree of great beauty in all seasons. In spring, it produces small purple flowers which give way to red fruits. While attractive close up, the flowers are however not particularly showy from a distance. The delicate spring foliage of five or seven pointed, lobed, wine-red to burgundy leaves, holds its color in summer and turns vibrant crimson-red in fall before shedding to the ground. As the leaves fall, they expose the blackish red bark, adding interest in the winter landscape.
What are some good companion plants for Japanese maples?
Great companion plants are those sharing the same cultural requirements. Among the acid-loving plants are Rhoddendrons, Azaleas, Kalmia latifola (Mountain Laurel) and dwarf conifers. Hellebores (Helleborus) are great Japanese Maple partners since they share the same growing conditions. The most popular Hellebore varieties are the Lenten Roses (Helleborus x hybridus or Helleborus orientalis) which are available in a rich array of colors including pink, purple, red, white, green, apricot and yellow. Flowering a month or so earlier are the Christmas Roses (Helleborus niger) with their pristine white to pink-tinged white blossoms.
How tall does a sage plant grow?
Blooming in mid to late spring, this hardy bulbous plant grows up to 14-16 in. tall (35-40 cm). Great for borders, rock gardens, under trees and shrubs and perennial beds. Perfect for naturalizing in a moist woodland edge.
How many nodding flowers per stem?
Adding a burst of color to your spring, Fritillaria meleagris (Checkered Lily) features 1 or 2 nodding flowers per stem, generally presenting an interesting checkerboard pattern of dark purples and whites - although all-white varieties are also available.
What are some low growing bulbs?
Low-growing spring bulbs such as Crocus, Cyclamen, Scilla (Squill), Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), Erythronium (Dog Tooth Violet), Anemone blanda (Grecian Windflower), Iris reticulata (Dwarf Iris), Leucojum (Snowflake), Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite) and Narcissi (Daffodil) will create a flowering carpet and provide eye-catching color to your garden at a time when it is still dormant.
How tall does a Triumph Tulip get?
Robust, it enjoys a sturdy stem that will withstand wind and rain. Grows up to 12-14 inches tall (30-35 cm).
How tall do Japanese maple trees get?
Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are small deciduous trees that grow to between 15 and 20 feet tall. There are shorter cultivars available, though, with mature sizes ranging from 5 to 15 feet. This is not a heat-tolerant tree. In U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 and 9, plant them in full shade or where they will receive direct sunlight only in the early morning or late evening. They don't grow well in zone 10. Plants that will grow well around the tree must also be able to thrive in shady areas.
What is the color of Hosta lily?
Hosta 'Aureomarginata' has dark olive-green leaves with lighter green, yellow or white edges and blooms in lavender. Hosta 'Big Daddy' has blue-green foliage and white or lavender flowers. All of these alumroot and plantain lily cultivars are winter hardy in zones 8 and 9.
What to put under maple trees?
Before planting anything, add copious amounts of good compost, aged manure, leaf mold and other organic matter to improve the soil structure, nutrients and water retention. Improving the soil will help the following plants do well under your maples. You may want to consider a groundcover.
What is a clumping grass-like plant that has small flowers on a central stem?
Lilyturf (Liriope) is a small, clumping grass-like plant that has small flowers on a central stem. There are some lovely perennials that will be happy in your location. Barrenworts (Epimedium) are known for their neat habits and undemanding requirements. There are some nice choices for leaf and flower color as well.
What is the best groundcover for geraniums?
There are some nice choices for leaf and flower color as well. Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a deciduous groundcover that will quickly develop huge mats of soft green stems that smell like vanilla. Early spring bulbs, corms, and tubers like crocus, Siberian squill (Scilla), and Cyclamen coum, which will bloom and then go dormant, seem to prefer dry summer conditions. All kinds of hardy geraniums will grow well and flower throughout the summer as long as you deadhead them in mid to late summer. Pigsqueak (Bergenia cordifolia) will take fairly deep shade, producing flowers in mid-spring.
Why do trees need to be thinning?
And, of course, there is the lack of light. Thinning the tree branches overhead allows more light to reach the ground.
Appearance
Features
- Noted for its reliability and distinctive foliage color, Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Atropurpureum' is a slow-growing deciduous shrub with an elegant, broad, arching habit and nicely contorted branches. In spring, this Laceleaf Japanese Maple produces small reddish flowers which give way to seeds. The delicate foliage of ferny, lace-like leaves with v...
Reviews
- Geranium 'Rozanne' is an exceptional, unique and unsurpassed geranium selection. There are not enough superlatives to describe this fabulous perennial. Robust and vigorous, with one of the longest flowering periods of any of the hardy geraniums and rare blue-colored flowers of great decorative beauty, it is an ideal element of the garden, patio or balcony. A prolific bloomer, it con…
Description
- One of the best vertical varieties of switch grasses, Panicum virgatum 'Northwind' is a deciduous, perennial grass of architectural distinction. It forms a dense, strongly upright, narrow clump of olive-green to blue-green foliage, which gets topped in late summer with a profusion of finely-textured, golden flower spikelets which hover over the foliage like an airy cloud. Both flowers an…
Characteristics
- Noted for its superb elegance, Athyrium niponicum var. pictum (Japanese Painted Fern) is a very pretty deciduous fern forming a large rosette of arching, strikingly refined, lance-shaped, bipinnate fronds. The fronds are soft blue-green with a silvery overlay accented by contrasting dark burgundy midribs. Slowly spreading, this Fern is easy to grow and one of the most rewarding fer…
Cultivation
- One of the best blue hosta cultivars, 'Halcyon' (Plantain Lily) is a great addition to shady areas where it forms an attractive, dense mound of smooth, flat, spear-shaped, thick-textured, intense blue leaves. Bell-shaped, pale lilac blooms appear in late summer, rising on mauve-gray scapes 26 in. long (65 cm) but the primary contribution of this hosta is its lovely foliage. This cultivar retain…