Momiji Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Momiji'
Height: 8 feet
Spread: 10 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4
Description:
A lovely low growing dwarf variety for smaller areas that has an open habit and interesting lime green and red foliage in summer changing to a brilliant orange in fall; a great focal point for walkways
Ornamental Features
Momiji Japanese Maple has attractive lime green deciduous foliage which emerges red in spring on a tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. The small lobed palmate leaves are highly ornamental and turn outstanding shades of orange and scarlet in the fall.
Landscape Attributes
Momiji Japanese Maple is a deciduous tree with a strong central leader and an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
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.
Momiji Japanese Maple is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Planting & Growing
Momiji Japanese Maple will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.
This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. You may want to keep it 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 is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
Momiji Japanese Maple is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.