Red Maple vs Japanese Maple - TreeTime.ca

Red Maple vs Japanese Maple

Acer rubrum

Acer palmatum

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

Red Maple
Japanese Maple

Red Maple is a beautiful deciduous tree that blooms with small red flowers in the spring. It is one of the first trees to change colour in the fall, turning a brilliant reddish-orange colour. It is one of the most common and widespread maples in North America.

Red Maple is a great choice for parks and large gardens where there is ample room for its root system.

Important note: Red Maple leaves are toxic to horses if ingested in quantity.

Japanese Maple is one of the most popular accent maples. Its long, fingered lobed leaves can be variegated in the summer with lighter shades of green, red, or even purple. Its autumn colour is a brilliant red that is uncommon in most plants, which adds nice contrast to your yard when planted near other trees.


The Japanese Maple is a diverse variety, there are over 1,000 cultivars with different sizes, shapes, and colours.

This species is extremely popular with bonsai enthusiasts.

Red Maple Quick Facts

Japanese Maple Quick Facts

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Zone: 3a
Zone: 5a
Height: 15 m (49 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Fall colour: bright red to yellow
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: none

In row spacing: 2.4 - 4 m (8 - 12 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)

Toxicity: wilted leaves toxic to horses

Other Names: soft maple, swamp maple, water maple
Other Names: palmate maple, smooth japanese maple