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Red Select Japanese Maple Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

  • Red Select Japanese
  • Red Select Japanese
  • Red Select Japanese
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Acer palmatum 'Red Select'

With a name like “Red Select Japanese Maple Tree,” it is no surprise to find this plant offers varying shades of red throughout the entire growing season. The leaves of this cultivar, Acer palmatum 'Red Select,' emerge in spring with a dark maroon color. Throughout spring and summer, those leaves show hints of dark purple and green. In fall, the leaves brighten to a vibrant crimson while this plant's fruits, a set of winged seed pods, share that striking red hue as well. 

  • This plant's winged samara and fall leaves are both bright red. 
  • During spring and summer, the foliage shows shades of maroon, purple and dark green. 
  • This tree can be more cold-hardy than other Japanese maples.
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Plant Care

Sunlight

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The Red Select Japanese Maple Tree can grow in either full sunlight or partial shade.

Watering

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Water this plant twice per week or more just after planting. Water about once per week during the growing season following establishment.

Fertilizing

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Fertilize once per year in late winter with a balanced fertilizer or one that is low in nitrogen.

Planting and Care

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by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on October 26, 2022

Planting instructions

You can plant a Red Select Japanese Maple Tree in either full sunlight or in partial shade. Unlike the leaves of other Japanese maples, the foliage of a Red Select Japanese Maple Tree does not tend to lose vibrance based on sun exposure. The soil in your growing location should be nutrient-rich, well-draining and slightly acidic. Once you find those conditions, plant this tree in a hole that is as deep as the root ball is tall and at least twice as wide as the root ball. After backfilling, add a layer of mulch to maintain soil moisture.

Watering and nutrients

After planting a Red Select Japanese Maple Tree, you should water it at least twice weekly, if not more, during the first few months. After a few months, you can water this plant about once per week during the growing season throughout the rest of its life. At times, you may need to increase your watering rate if the weather is exceptionally hot or dry. The fertilization needs for this plant are relatively low. Generally, you can feed this tree once per year in late winter, or less, using a balanced fertilizer or one that’s low in nitrogen.

Pollination

As is true of all Japanese maple trees, the Red Select Japanese Maple Tree is a self-fertile tree, which means you need only one to conduct pollination. The flowers of this tree are small and relatively unremarkable. They bloom in spring and invite insects to carry pollen from the male flower structures to the female ones. While you may not think pollination is essential for this non-edible plant, the fruits this tree does produce are quite attractive, meaning that successful pollination has a significant impact on this plant’s late-season ornamental appeal.

Pruning

Pruning for a Red Select Japanese Maple Tree is not always necessary, and if you do choose to prune, you should wait until your tree is at least three years old before making any cuts. Fortunately, the Red Select Japanese Maple Tree grows with a pleasing shape all on its own, meaning there will be minimal need for shaping. As such, your main pruning goals should be to remove dead, damaged and diseased limbs in the late winter or early spring.

Pests, diseases and animals

The Red Select Japanese Maple Tree faces the same pest and disease threats that most Japanese maples face. Pests, scale insects, aphids, borers and mites can cause infestations. For diseases, wilt, leaf spots and canker are some of the most common. Additionally, complications such as root rot can arise if you overwater this plant or grow it where there is poor soil drainage. Occasionally, some foliage issues can arise in a Red Select Japanese Maple Tree. One of the most common of these leaf issues is chlorosis, which occurs when the soil pH is too high.

Achieving maximum results

In most cases, the leaves of your Red Select Japanese Maple Tree will have an impressive look regardless of whether they receive full sunlight or partial shade. However, the exception to this is when a Red Select Japanese Maple Tree grows in the hotter part of its range in full sunlight. In that setting, it is possible for the tips of this tree’s leaves to turn brown during hot summer weather. Otherwise, the Red Select Japanese Maple Tree is a plant that is easy to keep healthy and incorporate into many planting schemes.

FAQs

Can you grow a Red Select Japanese Maple Tree in a container?

While it is most common to grow a Red Select Japanese Maple Tree in the ground, it is also possible for this tree to adapt to garden containers as well. If you grow this plant in a container, you should choose a larger container to accommodate this plant's root system. You will also likely need to transplant your Red Select Japanese Maple Tree to a larger container as it matures.

How big does a Red Select Japanese Maple Tree get?

The Red Select Japanese Maple Tree is a small tree that grows to be anywhere between 6 and 12 feet tall at maturity. This plant will develop a cascading canopy that may grow to 12 feet wide or even larger. However, it may take a while before your plant reaches this size as the Red Select Japanese Maple Tree grows at a slow to moderate rate of about 12 to 16 inches per growing season in most cases.

Where does the Red Select Japanese Maple Tree come from?

The original version of the Japanese maple tree, known botanically as Acer palmatum, comes from areas of China, Japan and Korea. However, the natural beauty of this plant has led to countless cultivars that are now popular worldwide. The Red Select Japanese Maple Tree is just one of these many cultivated varieties, and it stands out for its foliage color and its overall growth form.

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Mature height
6-10 ft.
Mature width
8-15 ft.
Sunlight requirement
Best Color- Part Shade Tolerates Full Sun
Growth rate
Moderate
Botanical name
Acer palmatum 'Red Select'
Shipping exclusions
AZ
Grows Well In Zones
5-9
map
Growing Zones: 5-9 i Growing zones help determine if a particular plant is likely to grow well in a location. It identifies the average annual minimum winter temperatures across the U.S. provided as a map by the USDA.
(hardy down to -10°F)

Red Select Japanese Maple Tree

Acer palmatum 'Red Select'
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