Emperor Japanese Maple Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on August 4, 2022

Planting instructions

The emperor Japanese maple tree grows from zone 5 through zone 9 and performs best in partial shade, but it can tolerate full sunlight, especially in the cooler parts of its growing range. Ideally, the soil in your growing location should have plenty of organic nutrients, have good drainage, and be somewhat acidic. Plant your tree in a hole that is deep enough to keep the tree’s root flare at or just above the soil line. Then apply a layer of organic mulch to help the soil maintain the moisture your plant needs.

Watering and nutrients

After you plant your emperor Japanese maple, you should supply water about twice per week or more. Your main goal at this stage is to keep the soil consistently moist to encourage the roots to establish themselves in their new growing location. After your tree is established, you can water it about once per week. Your emperor Japanese maple tree will benefit from a single feeding in early spring. What’s most important when choosing fertilizer is avoiding fertilizers that are high in nitrogen; they can cause rapid and weak growth in a Japanese maple.

Pollination

The emperor Japanese maple tree is a self-pollinating tree species that blooms in the spring. During that bloom time, the flowers will attract flying insects that are responsible for spreading the pollen from flower to flower to allow for fruit development. When pollination is successful, your emperor Japanese maple tree will produce a set of winged samaras. While these fruits can be interesting to look at, their ornamental value is relatively low, and their edible value is non-existent, which is why pollination is not all that important when growing this tree.

Pruning

Pruning for an emperor Japanese maple or any Japanese maple tree should be minimal, especially when the tree is young. Excessive pruning can cause the tree to produce new growth quickly, which often becomes weak and unattractive. Still, some pruning will be beneficial for this tree. Typically, you should remove any part of the tree that is dead or diseased. For the emperor Japanese maple, it’s also a good idea to thin the canopy a bit — this tree is a bit more compact than other Japanese maples.

Pests, diseases, and animals

The emperor Japanese maple tree has decent pest and disease resistance, but that does not mean it is immune from such complications. Wilt, canker, and leaf spots can all arise in this tree, as can root rot and botrytis. Insects can also harm your emperor Japanese maple tree. The most common pests that will arrive are mites, weevils, and Japanese beetles. Occasionally, this acid-loving plant may also experience chlorosis when the soil pH gets too high.

Achieving maximum results

One advantage of the emperor Japanese maple tree is that it puts out its leaves a bit later than other Japanese maple varieties. This characteristic can make this variety a bit less susceptible to late winter frost damage. The leaves of this tree also tend to hold their best color in a partial shade growing location. Not only does full sunlight mute the foliage color, but it can also lead to leaf scorch in the hotter parts of this tree’s growing range.

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