Lace Leaf Maple Varieties: Most Popular Ones!

Lace leaf maple varieties

Whether you are looking to decorate your garden or reform your backyard, choosing a unique maple tree will be the best option.

There are different types of lace leaf Japanese maples that amaze us with slender-shaped leaves and striking colors.

Japanese maple trees also popularly known as Acer palmatum are elegant trees that are perfect for display in pots or on the ground. The ‘Acer’ is a Latin word that means ‘sharp in’ while ‘Palmatum’ means a leaf with a hand-like shape. This means the leaves of Acer palmatum trees are shaped like that of a hand.

In this article, you can check out some of the many enchanting lace leaf maple varieties to choose from.

What Does A Lace Leaf Japanese Maple Look Like?

Scientific name	Acer palmatum
Family	Sapindaceae (soapberry)
Native Area	Southeast Korea and Central and South Japan
Height	10 – 15 ft
Width	8 – 12 ft
Sun Exposure	Full sun to partial shade
Soil	Well-drained, humus rich, and acidic soils
USDA Growing Zones	4 – 8

In most cultures Acer palmatum or Japanese maple trees are treasured for their mesmerizing appearance. In fact, many people prefer to grow different Japanese maple lace leaf varieties to add a fascinating appearance to their landscape.

Belonging to the family of Sapindaceae (also known as soapberry), these trees are short in height and mostly follow a weeping mound shape. The only variety that follows an upright structure is Lace-leaf Japanese maple, which is also famous as ‘Seiryu’.

It has a dissected form, which means it has deeply-cut leaves. These trees can climb up to a height of 10 to 15 ft and spread around 8 to 12 ft wide. The ornamental leaves of this tree are highly admired for dark-red color in spring which changes to gold color in autumn.

It is more likely to thrive in acidic, well-drained soil rich in humus. Most of the lace leaf maple varieties require complete sun exposure as well as partial shade to grow well. During hot summer days, the leaves are at a higher risk to sorch.

The most interesting thing is that these trees are self-sowing so they can easily spread and turn into weeds.

Related: Japanese maple growth rate

The Most Popular Japanese Lace Leaf Maple Kinds

Here we have listed 20 different types of lace leaf Japanese maples that can offer mesmerizing appeal when planted on any landscape.

1. Weeping lace leaf maple

The weeping lace leaf maples are deciduous trees that can be easily maintained. It has a weeping form with a deeply cut leaf structure. It appears pleasing in the summer season because of its deep-red leaves that turn into a crimson hue as it ages.

These maple trees can grow up to a height of 10 ft to 15 ft with a dense spread of about 8 ft to 12 ft.

The trees prefer to grow in full to partial sun exposure, well-drained and moderately moist soil. Its delicate leaves are likely to burn during summer when exposed to the scorching heat in the afternoon.

There are several different weeping lace leaf maple varieties that offer a great appeal, including Acer shirasawanum, Acer palmatum dissectum, Acer japonicum, Acer palmatum, Acer sieboldianum, Acer buergerianum and many more.

2. Ash’s Scarlet

Ash’s scarlet is one of the many wonderful Japanese maple laceleaf varieties with a weeping habit. It is a short and dissected lace-leaf maple that is almost dwarf. That is why it is a great option if you are looking to plant a beautiful lace-leaf maple in your garden.

This low-maintenance type of Japanese maple can mature to a size of 2′ X 3′. During the summer this tree holds appealing dark-red leaves.

And, in the autumn, its dense foliage turns into a beautiful scarlet red color, while this variety of lace leaf is pink-red in hue in the spring.

3. Autumn flower

This is a classic out of all the lace leaf maple varieties. These trees develop a plunge and mountain like shape as they mature. It’s deep orangish in color that turns to bright scarlet during the fall.

Being rapid growers these trees can reach up to a size of 6′ X 10′, whereas they can spread out for about 8 ft to 12 ft wide. This plant is a lover of full to partial shade but its leaves display the best colors in partial shade.

It requires a little acidic, well-drained, moist and organically rich soil to thrive well. However, its leaves can burn when kept in complete sun exposure or insufficiently moist soils.

4. Viridis

This outstanding Japanese maple is almost a dwarf variety of lace-leaf maple. This deep green tree has delicate and lacy foliage which forms a dome-shaped structure as it matures.

You can find its beautifully streaming branches really elegant to make your garden appealing. In spring it has light green leaves which change to brilliant orange and golden yellow color in the autumn. As it matures the tree develops lovely twisted branches in the months of winter. This lovely lace-leaf maple can grow to a size of 6′ X 8′.

5. Baby Lace

This is probably one of the most interesting types of lace leaf Japanese maples. It has delicate, properly dissected and small leaves. At first the tiny-leafed japanese lace-leaf grows a red-orange color and then changes to bronze with green shade in the summer.

It has a beautiful red with orange color during fall. In order to grow well this tree loves morning sun and shade in the afternoon. This small and elegant variety of laceleaf maple can reach the size of 3’ X 4’.

Being a slow-grower and finely textured, this tree can add a tender softness to your landscape.

6. Red dragon

This is one of the brightest lace-leaf maples with eye-catching purple leaves. These maple leaves have an appealing lacy texture and are nicely dissected. In spring the leaves are purple with red color.

The lace-leaf maple retains this color no matter how much sun exposure it gets. While during fall the foliage changes color from scarlet-red to fiery-red. As for its branches, the laceleaf maple has a cascading mound-shaped and close-packed foliage.

This stunning tree can thrive well in locations with light shade and grow about 6′ X 8′ in size.

7. Baldsmith

If you live in a hot summer area, then a Baldsmith Japanese maple laceleaf varieties are the best pick for your garden. This Japanese maple grows more nicely as the weather gets hotter. Its leaves essentially show a light green color in the center and light pink at the sides.

While during the fall, the dense foliage becomes orangish yellow. These bright colors make the fall season brighter. If you want to witness this beauty in its best color, then the afternoon is the perfect time. This incredible kind of Japanese lace leaf can reach up to 6’ X 8’ in size.

8. Crimson Queen

With beautiful foliage, this short Japanese lace-leaf maple has a weeping habit. It can thrive very well in sunny as well as cooler areas and reach to a size of 6’ X 8’. In sunlight the tone of this beautiful crimson-colored tree can intensify. It highlights the fascinating color of its foliage.

Being popular as the queen of deeply-cut lace-leaf maples, this weeping tree holds color in the full exposure to sun. In autumn the foliage can turn into a deep scarlet tone and then becomes crimson in the fall.

Although you can get carried away with its majestic appearance but be careful of the aphids, shot hole borer, rotting root, verticillium wilt and armillaria.

9. Full moon maple

These types of lace leaf Japanese maples have an elegant horizontal to green cascading structure. In spring it presents deeply-cut green leaves with ornamental burgundy flowers. It often grows well in full sun to partially shaded areas.

In contrast to the parent plant this tree shows blazing yellow foliage which eventually becomes dark yellow with green shade in the summer season. During the fall this foliage again changes to the orangish red shade. The height of this wonderful Japanese lace-leaf maple can go up to 16–20 ft.

10. Green cascade

Also known as Acer japonicum, this is an incredible green cascade. It gracefully presents a cascading green color. In addition to the finely dissected green leaves this tree presents stunning burgundy flowers.

When in a Japanese garden, you can commonly find this tree just near a waterfall. So, if you are looking for maples, then you can go for this tree to bring a peaceful view to your garden.

11. Orangeola

These exceptional Japanese maple laceleaf varieties can be a great add on to your garden. In the beginning of the spring, the lace leaf maple can show orangish-red color. And as they enter into summer, the tree can show a blazing red with green color.

In the middle of the summer, the foliage turns to the orangish red tone. This incredible lace leaf maple tree can climb to a size of 4’ X 6’.

12. Jeddeloh Orange

If you want to add an extra charm to your garden, then consider adding a Jeddeloh Orange. It is a beautiful Japanese lace-leaf maple variety with red and orange foliage. Its leaves become burgundy and green with orange-red edges in the summertime.

Whereas in the winter season it grows twigs that are in copper shade with orange foliage. This unique orangish red weeping lace leaf maple has dissected leaves that can reach a height of 4 ft to 6 ft.

13. Hana matoi

This is one of the best variegated lace leaf Japanese maples. In spring it is fully covered with vibrant tones like green, white and pink colors that change to scarlet in the fall.

Also known as Acer palmatum dissectum, this tree has a mounding form just like other weeping dissected lace-leaf maples. These slow-growing and stunning variegated laceleafs can grow to a height of 3 ft to 5 ft.

14. Waterfall

With long flowing branches and dissected green leaflets, these lace leaf maple varieties look just like a beautiful waterfall. That said, it appears a bit larger in size and shows cascading branches. In the fall, it shows a stunning golden color.

If you live in a cool climate, it is best to choose this tree in your garden due to its compact size. While you can plant it in a pot in full to partial sun exposure. Deciduous in nature, these trees can easily tolerate heat and nicely retain green color. It can grow between 8 feet to 10 feet tall.

15. Spring delight

This is another lace leaf maple variety with dissected, mounding and weeping form. It displays marvelous light green leaves with red margins. In the fall, it shows vibrant tones of red and orange.

It can grow up to a height of 6 feet and 8 feet. Whereas it loves to thrive in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soil.

16. Octopus

As the name says, the shoots of this marvelous lace leaf maple tree come out just like the tentacles of an octopus. It is a great option if you want a plant in containers. This weeping lace leaf maple shows a beautiful plum-red shade. While it displays a rosy red shade with each lobe showing a strip of green color.

When it comes to summer you can witness its leaves turning into a striking copper red shade while retaining the green tone in centers. And, when it’s autumn the tree displays crimson-red foliage.

17. Lady Abbess

This is another one of the most beautiful Japanese maple laceleaf varieties with a layered and tidy structure. This tree has a rare striking pink and red tone during spring. In the fall it shows red with orange shade. It can roughly climb up to 3’ X 6’ high.

18. Germaine’s gyration

This is one of the best varieties with unique and twisted branches. In spring you can witness its blazing green leaves which become golden orange as fall arrives.

It can roughly reach about 6 ft – 8 ft.

19. Firecracker

If you need one of the exciting types of lace leaf Japanese maples, you should choose a firecracker lace leaf tree. It holds the striking red color throughout the year. While it has leaves that come out to decorate uneven branches. It may reach up to a height of 5-6 feet and spread about of 6-7 feet

20. Sunset

A rare and slow-growing lace leaf Japanese maple, it is a great variety. In the fall you can see its leaves changing color to red orangish from yellowish green and orange in the spring. This tree can grow up to a height of 4ft to 6 ft.

Related: Japanese Maple Care Guide

FAQs

Q. What is lace leaf Japanese maple price?

A. The lace leaf Japanese maples can be a bit expensive due to their appealing features. Based on their capacity and foot-size, the price may vary. On an average it can range around $80 to $150.

Q. How fast do Lace leaf maples grow?

A. When it comes to growth, Japanese maples tend to grow slower. On average its different species can grow up to 12 inches every season. This means in 15 years, it can reach a height of 10-15 ft, on an average.

Q. How tall do Japanese lace leaf trees grow?

A. Typically, the Japanese lace leaf maple trees can grow up to 10 – 15 feet high.

Q. Which are some of the popular dwarf Japanese lace leaf varieties?

A. Some of the most popular types of lace leaf Japanese maples include Shaina Small Japanese Maple, Laceleaf Japanese Maple ‘Garnet’, Orange Dream Japanese Maple, Viridis Japanese Maple, and many more.