Your biggest problem with a Japanese maple might be whether it could survive the winters in zone 4. Check with local nurseries about which varieties do best in your area. My brother has a dwarf red cutleaf (don't know variety) in his yard in Chicago and it has survived several winters. He planted it in the most protected part of his yard where it won't be hit by winter winds.

Others who live in your zone might have some suggestions for varieties that are winter hardy. You might also consider emailing some of the JM nurseries with on-line catalogues, such as www.mountainmaples.com or www.worldplants.com for suggestions on hardy varieties.

Acer ginalla, the Amur maple would be hardy enough, not really like a 'Bloodgood', though. Acer truncatum, the Shantung maple, is another tree to consider.

Dave

Don't forget acer pseudosieboldianum, Korean Maple. At quick glance it's leaves resemble a Japanese-type maple but it's hardy to -30 to -40F.

Height is approx 15 feet but slow growing (though I guess Japanese maples are relatively slow growing too). My Korean Maple is only about 5 feet high after four years, Maybe it grows 8 inches to a foot a year.

Attached is a newsletter I found while researching maples that are hardy in cold climates.

Here is a link that might be useful: Small Maples for Minnesota

Thanks for the help everyone. I'll check out the Shantung and Korean maples. I don't think the Bloodgood will work because the area is not very sheltered.

Rob

Awesome fall colors and definitely a palmatum looking leaf.

Here is a photo of the fall color on my Korean maple, Acer pseudosieboldianum, last fall:

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I just love this small tree. As you can see, the leaves are very similar to a Japanese maple, Acer palmatum. This tree is perfectly hardy in USDA zone 4a. Actually, the photo does not do the tree justice. I purchased this tree from Heronswood Nursery in Washington state via mail order.
Mike

I am very interested in the Acer pseudosieboldianum to plant in my yard (would like to plant it next to a small water feature). Like many, I love the look of the Japanese Maple, but don't have the right climate/conditions to grow them in, and the Korean Maple almost sounds too good to be true as far as what I am looking for.

Similar to Jugglerguy's conditions, I have only full sun and the cold winters, in addition to low humidity and occasional winds to offer for them to grow in (live in a new house with no larger trees to help shelter). How does the Korean Maple tolerate full sun? In addition, was it hard to find when you got yours? I haven't seen any at local nurseries out here in Colorado.

BZwink1 - I just planted 3 young Korean maples in my yard near Boston (purchased from mountainmaples.com). All the reading I could do on them indicated that they prefer a sheltered situation with no hot afternoon sunshine. Perhaps in a true zone 4 they can handle full sun, but I don't think they would like the sun conditions in Colorado.

Japanese maples are hard to grow in CO. I never saw one in the open (I grew up in Denver). One smallish, beautiful maple that can deal with full sun and open conditions is acer griseum (paperbark maple). These are likely sold at a good tree nursery near you. I suggest you ask a good nurseryman(woman) at one of these places in CO for help. A small birch (himalayan 'jacquemontii') would also be really nice near a water feature, and they don't get above 30' tall.

Hey guys,

I love this thread. I'm also very interested in maple trees at about 15-20 feet. I went to Wisphering Hills this afternoon and saw Amur Embers Maple. The guy told me that it's very hardy and can take the winter were I lived. Amur Embers are zone 3 tree. However, googling it, I also found Amur Maples. I don't know if they're the same. Also from this thread, I found out that Korean maples resemble like Japanese maple and are hardy too. Would it be fine if I will be planting this tree in direct sunlight? I'm planning to use this tree as a shade to my patio. Lastly, does this Korean maple spread grow like the Amur Ember maple?

Thanks guys! Awesome pictures too.... Can't wait to have one!!!

Jugglerguy,

I believe the consensus is that Emperor I is the hardiest A. palmatum on the market. If you want a true purple-leaved Japanese Maple, this is the one to try. Edelweiss Nursery in Duluth (z4) has one that's about six years old and around 10' tall. It's planted in the corner of a protective fence shielding it from north/west winds. It is not, however, up against a building and they have not experienced any significant dieback that I know of. I was up there about a month ago and it looked quite healthy.

I planted a small Asian Maple collection this spring, and went with A. griseum (Paperbark), A. maximowicziana (Nikko), A. triflorum (Threeflower), A. pseudosieboldianum (Korean), and A. japonicum 'Aconitifolium' (Fullmoon). The first four are on an east facing slope, with 20' White Pines to the west of them. They get full sun during am and early pm, and have had some scorch problems on all but the Paperbark. We've had a hot, dry summer and hopefully this will not be a reocurring problem. The A. japonicum is planted on east side of house in a very protected site. My only fear is that it will grow too wide/big for this location. I'd think that in your z4/5 location, you could grow any of these without too many difficulties. Of course, the real test for me will be to get them through winter. I'll let you know how it goes. It should be interesting.

Another one that I really wanted to plant is A. mandschuricum. This is another trifoliate that is quite hardy and has a lot to offer in a small/medium sized Maple.

And there's A. tegmentosum 'White Tigress'. Oh, and ...

I live in east troy wisconsin and planted 2 bloodgood japanese maple no luck within two years the were both dead this was an expensive venture