Moana Nursery High Desert Plant Finder & Guide
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Emperor I Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Wolff'

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Emperor I Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Wolff') at Moana Nursery

Emperor I Japanese Maple

Emperor I Japanese Maple

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Emperor I Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Wolff') at Moana Nursery

Emperor I Japanese Maple foliage

Emperor I Japanese Maple foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Emperor I Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Wolff') at Moana Nursery

Emperor I Japanese Maple foliage

Emperor I Japanese Maple foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  20 feet

Spread:  20 feet

Sunlight:  partial shade  full shade 

Hardiness Zone:  5

Other Names:  Emperor 1

Description:

A fast-growing small home landscape feature tree that commands a premiere location in the front yard; enduring royal purple foliage all season long and turning fiery red and orange in fall, wonderfully artistic growth habit

Ornamental Features

Emperor I Japanese Maple is primarily valued in the landscape for its ornamental globe-shaped form. It has attractive purple deciduous foliage. The ferny palmate leaves are highly ornamental and turn outstanding shades of scarlet and orange in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Emperor I Japanese Maple is an open deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned in summer after the leaves have fully developed, as it may 'bleed' sap if pruned in late winter or early spring. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Emperor I Japanese Maple is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Shade
  • Mass Planting

Planting & Growing

Emperor I Japanese Maple will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.

This tree does best in partial shade to full shade. Keep it well away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in both summer and winter to conserve soil moisture and protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Shade  Massing 
Applications
Foliage Color  Fall Color  Plant Form 
Ornamental Features