Do all Japanese maples need to grow in the shade?
No! Many Acer palmatum cultivars are very happy in a sunny exposure. This includes the red dissectums (or lace leaf maples), as well as trees with wider, palmate lobes. In fact, the red leaved trees need a few hours of sunlight to maintain their red color. In the Sculpture Gardens at Wildwood, one sees many maples growing in full sun. Summer temperatures exceed 100 degrees. We have found that Japanese maples with green lace leaves prefer partial shade during the afternoon. Cultivars of Acer shirasawanum and Acer japonicum also appreciate filtered sun. Note: A young tree planted out in full sun will struggle and may not survive. If you wish to start the tree out in full sun, we recommend selecting a specimen that is at least 6 or 7 years old.
