Red Maple vs Japanese Maple - TreeTime.ca

Red Maple vs Japanese Maple

Acer rubrum

Acer palmatum

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

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

Zone: 3a
Zone: 5a
Height: 15 m (49 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: none

Toxicity: wilted leaves toxic to horses

Foliage: wide, palm-like
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Fall colour: bright red to yellow
Seeds: located within the winged samaras
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

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

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: soft maple, swamp maple, water maple
Other Names: palmate maple, smooth japanese maple