Japanese maples are some of the most treasured ornamental trees around the world, and October is an ideal time for planting them. They’re loved for their delicate, graceful form, brilliant seasonal color, and sculptural appearance. Under the right conditions, these lovely trees are easy to care for and bring years of stunning color to the garden. 

Typically large shrubs and small trees, Japanese maples range from as short as six feet to as tall as 25 feet. They are a versatile group, and transform any size garden with their spring brilliance, lush summer foliage, and incredible autumn display. Even in winter, their attractive sculptural form creates a pretty silhouette. 

October is an ideal time for planting a Japanese maple, especially in warmer climates. The cool fall air and warm soil allow your tree to set down roots for the winter, without having to focus on top growth. The result is a stronger, more vigorous tree in the spring, ready to jump into action as soon as its dormancy ends.

If you’re thinking of adding a Japanese maple to your garden in October, you should know that there are many varieties to choose from. Some of them are quite unexpected, while others are exactly what you expect from this wonderful tree. Let’s take a look at some of these stunning, living sculptures.

‘Bloodgood’

Holds rich red tones from spring through fall.

Most Japanese maple trees are happiest in zones 5-8. They like temperate weather and overheat easily.

‘Bloodgood’ will tolerate summers in zone 9 with relative ease, as long as they have sun protection. I know this firsthand, as this is the type I grow in my zone 9 garden. It’s quite happy, and one of my favorite trees on the property. In October, it’s just starting to change color. 

‘Bloodgood’ is the gold standard for Japanese maple colors. The emerging spring foliage surprises me every year with how vivid and vibrant it is. The leaves start out a glowing pinkish-red, and lime green creeps in from the stems. It’s deep reddish green in the summer, and brilliant scarlet in the fall. Even in winter, the bark is smooth and lovely, and the form is wonderful. 

‘Crimson Queen’

Forms a graceful weeping shape with lacy crimson leaves.

‘Crimson Queen’ is a popular laceleaf variety of Japanese maple perfect for October. It has a low, cascading form and lacy foliage that has great movement. The soft, weeping habit makes this a standout in the October garden, and any time. It reaches about ten feet tall and is at least as wide as its height at maturity.

The laceleaf varieties have finely cut foliage with a feathery appearance. This is a moderate grower that will continue to grow broader after it reaches its full height. The foliage is deep crimson in the spring, and remains red through the summer, darkening to burgundy. In the fall, they turn a fiery red before falling to reveal the beautiful umbrella-like canopy. 

‘Red Dragon’

Keeps its deep red color even in summer heat.

‘Red Dragon’ is another laceleaf Japanese maple variety. It also has a weeping habit, though not as pronounced as some others. It’s best known for holding its color throughout the season. The canopy is simply gorgeous, growing wider over time and forming an attractive umbrella shape, often with a more layered appearance. 

Many laceleaf types have foliage that loses its red tones in the heat of summer. ‘Red Dragon’ is the answer if you want a tree that doesn’t do that. The foliage starts out bright crimson, deepens to garnet, and then blazes back up in the fall. It’s an amazing tree and a must-plant Japanese maple for October. 

Golden Full Moon

Bright chartreuse leaves glow before blazing in fall.

This Japanese maple is in a completely different class. It’s a different species from the ones we have seen so far. The full moon maples have rounded, fan-like leaves that are broader than most maples. ‘Golden Full Moon’ is a slow-growing tree that stays short and has a layered, rounded canopy. These are more sensitive to heat.

This Japanese maple does well when planted in October and is easy to grow. The leaves emerge bright chartreuse in the spring, unlike most Japanese maples, which are red. In summer, they remain bright green to gold, depending on sun exposure.

In the fall, this tree truly shines. Those leaves take on blazing orange and scarlet tones to finish out the year. 

‘Autumn Moon’

Apricot-gold foliage shifts to fiery red and orange.

If the last cultivar piqued your interest, check out ‘Autumn Moon.’ This compact Japanese maple is the same species as ‘Golden Full Moon,’ but it has a little extra spice. It has the same rounded ‘full moon’ leaves as others in the species. 

The foliage emerges in an incredible shade of apricot to yellow with bits of red that give it a glowing quality. In summer, it holds onto the gold tones, taking on some copper and subtle green touches. The fall colors, which are often on display in October, are incredible. Fiery red, orange, and gold make this one of the most dramatic on the list. 

‘Green Cascade’

Foliage flows downward, softening hard edges in the yard.

This Japanese maple is unique and has characteristics of more than one of the species we’ve looked at so far. Its outstanding characteristics earned it an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, a prestigious honor. The leaves are finely cut like a laceleaf, but broad like a full moon. It’s delicate and airy. 

In spring and summer, the foliage is bright to medium green, as the name ‘Green Cascade’ implies. In the fall, however, it explodes into crimson, gold, and orange. Its habit is cascading, rather than weeping. It has a rounded canopy with a broader outline. Plant this Japanese maple in October to enjoy the last lights of its fall display. 

‘Koto Ito Komachi’

Feathery strap-like leaves add airy movement.

Also called strapleaf Japanese maple, ‘Koto Ito Komachi’ is a distinctive variety with remarkably fine leaves that have a feathery quality. It’s a small, beautiful shrubby tree that makes a statement in the October garden. The leaves have narrow, strap-like lobes that have a ton of movement. 

In spring, the airy leaves are bright green with fresh texture. In summer, it holds the soft green of spring and has a wonderfully airy canopy. The branches are not weeping, but the leaves are soft and hang down, giving it just a touch of a weeping quality. In the fall, it has bright orange-gold foliage that lights up the landscape. 

‘Shinobuga Oka’

Rare variety with strong spring and autumn color.

‘Shinobuga Oka’ is a rare cultivar prized for its leaves and strong color shifts. It has an elegant form and a graceful weeping habit to its soft, finely cut leaves. The tree itself doesn’t have exceptionally weeping branches, but a wider canopy with a layered appearance. 

The young growth emerges pinkish-red, giving the spring garden a lively vibrancy. It matures to a cool, medium green, blending in without fading into the background. This Japanese maple is a star all year long. October will bring brilliant tones of crimson and scarlet to the canopy. 

‘Butterfly’

Variegated leaves shift from pink to cream to scarlet.

‘Butterfly’ is another uniquely beautiful type of Japanese maple for October. The most striking feature of this smaller cultivar is that its leaves are variegated. It’s a slender, airy, and elegant tree that makes a significant impact compared to its small stature. 

In spring, the leaves unfurl with pale pink variegation. The markings are irregular, with some leaves completely light and others entirely green. In summer, the pink portions of the leaves mature to a solid cream. In the fall, the leaves surprise by turning a fiery blend of scarlet, orange, and magenta. 

‘Beni Komachi’

Compact tree with tiny, crinkled crimson leaves.

‘Beni Komachi’ is a dwarf variety of Japanese maple. The name translates to ‘Beautiful Little Girl’ and suits this maple perfectly. It’s compact and brings gorgeous jewel tones to even a small garden space. 

The leaves are extra small and slightly crinkled. In spring, they emerge scarlet, and they hold their color excellently in the summer, sometimes deepening to reddish-bronze. Of course, it puts on a show in the fall, making itself a star of the garden in crimson and scarlet.

‘Emerald Lace’

Vigorous grower with bright emerald lacey foliage.

Finishing out with a spectacular cultivar, ‘Emerald Lace’ has an Award of Garden Merit from the RHS. It’s known for its delicate, lacy foliage and pronounced weeping habit. It’s a vigorous grower, with a cascading appearance that makes this Japanese maple an excellent specimen tree. 

The leaves emerge in spring a bright, vivid green with just a whisper of red on the leaf tips. In summer, the foliage deepens and softens to a beautiful emerald green. The fall colors are bright, vivid, and fiery red, orange, and scarlet. It’s a stunning cultivar, and a perfect Japanese maple for October planting.