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Japanese Maple
Japanese maple is the most popular ornamental tree in Bay Area gardens, prized for its delicate leaf forms, spectacular fall color, and manageable size. From the deep burgundy of 'Bloodgood' to the lacy green of dissectum varieties, these trees grace properties from Atherton estates to compact San Francisco courtyards. Unlike most trees on this site, Japanese maples rarely trigger permit issues, but they do require specific care to thrive in our Mediterranean climate.
How to Identify Japanese Maple
- Leaves are palmate (hand-shaped) with 5 to 9 pointed lobes, varying from broad to deeply dissected depending on variety
- Leaf color ranges from green to deep burgundy-red to variegated, depending on cultivar
- Bark is smooth and gray-green on young trees, becoming slightly furrowed with age
- Fall color is outstanding, brilliant reds, oranges, and golds depending on variety and sun exposure
- Growth habit varies widely: upright vase-shaped, rounded, or weeping (cascading) forms
- Small reddish flowers in spring, followed by paired winged seeds (samaras), mostly ornamental
Where It Grows in the Bay Area
Found in gardens throughout all 56 Bay Area cities we cover. Most common in established residential neighborhoods with mature landscaping. Particularly abundant in Atherton, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, Saratoga, and Mill Valley. Also thrives in San Francisco microclimates with afternoon fog protection.
Common Issues & Diseases
Brown, crispy leaf margins caused by hot afternoon sun, dry wind, or inadequate watering. Most common in inland valleys (Walnut Creek, San Jose) and south-facing exposures. Not a disease, it is environmental stress. Move to more shade or increase watering.
Soil-borne fungal disease that blocks water-conducting vessels. Causes sudden wilting of individual branches, often one side of the tree. No cure, prune out affected branches and keep the tree as healthy as possible. Avoid planting where tomatoes, peppers, or other susceptible plants grew.
Aphids colonize new growth in spring, causing leaf curl and sticky honeydew. Cottony scale can infest branches. Both are cosmetic in most cases. Strong water spray dislodges aphids; horticultural oil controls scale.
Thin bark on Japanese maples is vulnerable to sunscald on the south and west sides, especially on recently planted or newly exposed trees. Bark cracks can allow disease entry. Protect trunks with temporary shade during transplant establishment.
Bay Area Care Calendar
Season-by-season care guidance for japanese maple in the San Francisco Bay Area:
Dormant pruning window, best time for structural work when branch architecture is fully visible. Avoid pruning in hard freezes (rare in Bay Area). Mulch root zone with 2 to 3 inches of organic material, keeping mulch away from trunk.
New leaf emergence, avoid pruning now as sap flow is heavy and wounds bleed. Watch for aphids on new growth. Begin regular watering as temperatures rise. Fertilize lightly if growth was poor last year.
Critical watering period, consistent deep watering prevents leaf scorch. Never let the root zone dry out completely. Afternoon shade is valuable in hot inland areas. Monitor for scorch on leaf margins.
Peak fall color display. Reduce watering as leaves begin to drop. Light cleanup pruning of dead twigs is fine. Do not fertilize, let the tree prepare for dormancy naturally.
Detailed Notes
Variety Selection for Bay Area
Best performers in our climate: 'Bloodgood' (reliable burgundy upright, 20 ft), 'Sango-kaku' (coral bark, great in part shade, 20 ft), 'Waterfall' (green dissectum, 8 to 10 ft), 'Crimson Queen' (red dissectum, 8 to 10 ft), 'Osakazuki' (green summer / brilliant red fall, 20 ft). Avoid varieties bred for cold climates, they need more winter chill than the Bay Area provides.
Sun Exposure
The number one mistake with Japanese maples is too much sun. In the South Bay and inland valleys, afternoon shade is essential for all but the most sun-tolerant varieties. Morning sun with afternoon shade is the ideal exposure in most Bay Area locations. Coastal areas with fog can handle more direct sun.
Pruning Technique
Japanese maples should be pruned to reveal their natural branching structure, never sheared or topped. Remove crossing branches, dead wood, and inward-growing stems. Thin rather than head. The goal is an open, layered canopy that displays the elegant branch architecture. Over-pruning stimulates dense regrowth that defeats the purpose.
Arborist Pro Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Japanese maple variety is best for the Bay Area?
'Bloodgood' is the most reliable all-around performer, it handles Bay Area heat better than most red-leaf varieties and provides consistent burgundy color. For weeping forms, 'Crimson Queen' and 'Waterfall' both do well. For the best fall color, 'Osakazuki' is unmatched. Choose based on your sun exposure and space.
How much sun can a Japanese maple handle?
In coastal Bay Area cities with fog, Japanese maples can take full sun. In inland valleys like San Jose, Walnut Creek, or Danville, afternoon shade is essential for most varieties. Morning sun with afternoon shade is the ideal exposure for the majority of Bay Area locations.
Why are the leaf edges on my Japanese maple turning brown?
Brown leaf margins (scorch) indicate heat or water stress, too much afternoon sun, insufficient watering, or hot dry wind. This is not a disease. Solutions include providing afternoon shade, increasing watering frequency, and adding mulch to keep roots cool and moist.
How should I prune a Japanese maple?
Prune during winter dormancy. Remove crossing branches, dead wood, and inward-growing stems using thinning cuts at the branch collar. Never top or shear the tree. The goal is an open, layered canopy that displays natural branch structure. Less is more, over-pruning triggers dense regrowth.
Do Japanese maples need lots of water?
Japanese maples need consistent moisture but not waterlogged soil. In summer, water deeply 1 to 2 times per week depending on heat and exposure. The root zone should stay moist but never saturated. Container-grown Japanese maples need more frequent watering than in-ground trees.
Is Japanese maple protected by city tree ordinances?
Japanese maple is not specifically listed as a protected species in any Bay Area city. A large specimen can still qualify under a city's general size threshold. For unlisted species that is 9 inches DBH in Oakland, 10 inches in Saratoga, and 12 inches in Los Altos and Los Gatos (developed residential lots). Most Japanese maples stay below these sizes.
Can Japanese maple grow in a container?
Yes. Japanese maples are excellent container trees, especially dissectum (weeping) varieties. Use a container at least 24 inches wide with good drainage. Container trees need more frequent watering and feeding than in-ground trees, and root pruning every 3 to 5 years.
What causes a Japanese maple to suddenly wilt on one side?
Sudden one-sided wilting is the classic symptom of verticillium wilt, a soil-borne fungal disease. The fungus blocks water-conducting vessels in the wood. There is no cure, prune out affected branches and support tree health. Do not replant another Japanese maple or susceptible species in the same soil.
Where to Find Japanese Maple in the Bay Area
City permit guides for areas where Japanese maple is common:
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Written by Michael Schuck, ISA Certified Arborist WE-15750A · Updated May 2026
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Where Japanese maple is protected: 56 Bay Area cities
46 of 56 jurisdictions regulate Japanese maple on private property, each at its own size. The size is measured the way the city's code says (DBH or circumference, at the height shown). Rows come from the same rules the permit checker applies; the city page has the code section and the fee.
| City | Japanese maple | Rule it falls under |
|---|---|---|
| Atherton | Protected at 48″ circumference at 54″ | as "Other qualifying species (outside the main buildable area only)"; outside the main buildable area |
| Belmont | Protected at 14″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any other species (large diameter tree)" |
| Belvedere | Not a listed species | Only the listed species are regulated on private property |
| Berkeley | Not a listed species | Only the listed species are regulated on private property |
| Burlingame | Protected at 44″ circumference at 54″ | as "Any species" |
| Campbell | Not a listed species | Only the listed species are regulated on private property |
| Contra Costa County (unincorporated) | Protected at 20″ circumference at 54″ | as "Listed native (oaks, bay, buckeye, madrone, sycamore, bigleaf maple, box elder, white alder, cottonwoods, willows, black walnut, juniper, tanoak, knobcone/gray pine, toyon, red elderberry, coast redwood) in a riparian, woodland or savanna area or a stand of 4+ trees"; adjacent to or part of a riparian, foothill woodland or oak savanna area, or part of a stand of four or more trees |
| Corte Madera | Protected at 50″ circumference at 54″ | as "Any species" |
| Cupertino | Protected at 12″ DBH at 54″ | as "Specimen species (native oaks, CA buckeye, big leaf maple, deodar cedar, blue atlas cedar, bay laurel, western sycamore)" |
| Danville | Protected at 36″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any single-trunk tree 36" diameter or more (heritage)" |
| Dublin | Protected at 24″ DBH at 54″ | as "Oak, bay, cypress, maple, redwood, buckeye or sycamore" |
| East Palo Alto | Protected at 8″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any species" |
| Fairfax | Protected at 25″ circumference at 54″ | as "Bigleaf maple, buckeye, sycamore, madrone, native oaks, Oregon ash, red and white alder, Sargent cypress, tanbark oak (heritage)" |
| Foster City | No private-tree permit | Street and park trees only |
| Fremont | Protected at 10″ DBH at 54″ | as "Native species (oak, redwood, buckeye, madrone, sycamore, big-leaf maple, redbud, bay)" |
| Hayward | Protected at 4″ DBH at 54″ | as "Listed native species (17 species)" |
| Hillsborough | Protected at 18″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any species" |
| Lafayette | Not a listed species | Only the listed species are regulated on private property |
| Larkspur | Protected at 50″ circumference at 24″ | as "Any species (heritage tree)" |
| Los Altos | Protected at 10″ DBH at 48″ | as "Native species (24-species list: oaks, buckeye, big leaf maple, madrone, Douglas fir, bay, sycamore, alder, willow, cottonwood, redbud, ash, black walnut)" |
| Los Altos Hills | Not a listed species | Only the listed species are regulated on private property |
| Los Gatos | Protected at 12″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any species, developed residential lot"; developed residential |
| Marin County (unincorporated) | Protected at 10″ DBH at 54″ | as "Other listed natives (bay, redwood, Douglas-fir, big-leaf maple, box elder, buckeye, bishop pine, alders, tanbark oak, nutmeg, chinquapin, Oregon ash, yew, hawthorn, mountain-mahogany, elderberry, service-berry, silk tassel, wax myrtle)" |
| Menlo Park | Protected at 47.1″ circumference at 54″ | as "Any other species" |
| Mill Valley | Not a listed species | Only the listed species are regulated on private property |
| Milpitas | Protected at 56″ circumference at 54″ | as "Any species, developed residential lot"; developed residential |
| Monte Sereno | Protected at 25″ circumference at 48″ | as "Any other species" |
| Moraga | Protected at 5″ DBH at 36″ | as "Native tree (oaks, bay, redwood, buckeye, madrone, big leaf maple, box elder, alders, willows, knobcone/Coulter/gray pine, sycamore, cottonwoods, black walnut, elderberry, Sargent cypress, ashes, toyon)" |
| Mountain View | Protected at 48″ circumference at 54″ | as "Any other species" |
| Novato | Protected at 24″ DBH at 24″ | as "Any species, native or non-native (heritage tree)" |
| Oakland | Protected at 9″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any other species" |
| Orinda | Not a listed species | Only the listed species are regulated on private property |
| Pacifica | Protected at 12″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any species (protected tree)" |
| Palo Alto | Protected at 11.5″ DBH at 54″ | as "Bigleaf maple, incense cedar, coast live / blue / CA black / valley oak" |
| Piedmont | No private-tree permit | Street and park trees only |
| Pleasant Hill | Protected at 18″ DBH at 54″ | as "Non-native tree (except eucalyptus and palms)" |
| Pleasanton | Protected at 37″ circumference at 54″ | as "Listed native species (big leaf maple, box elder, CA buckeye, CA sycamore, canyon/coast live/interior live/blue/CA black/valley oak, CA bay laurel, CA black walnut, tan oak)" |
| Portola Valley | Protected at 24″ circumference at 54″ | as "Big leaf maple or madrone (24" circ / 7.6" dia)" |
| Redwood City | Protected at 38″ circumference | as "Any species" |
| Ross | Protected at 12.01″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any species, single trunk over 12" DBH (improved parcel)" |
| San Anselmo | Protected at 22″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any species on a developed lot (heritage tree)" |
| San Bruno | Protected at 10″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any other species" |
| San Carlos | Protected at 11″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any other non-excluded species (significant tree)" |
| San Francisco | Protected at 12″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any species" |
| San Jose | Protected at 38″ circumference at 54″ | as "Any species" |
| San Mateo | Protected at 15″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any other species" |
| San Mateo County (unincorporated) | Protected at 10″ DBH at 54″ | as "Indigenous species at 10" (bigleaf maple, box elder, madrone, buckeye, golden chinquapin, Oregon ash, Santa Cruz cypress, CA sycamore, coast live/canyon live/blue/Shreve/black/valley/interior live oak, CA nutmeg)" |
| San Rafael | No private-tree permit | Street and park trees only |
| Santa Clara | Protected at 12″ DBH at 54″ | as "Specimen species (CA buckeye, big leaf maple, deodar cedar, blue Atlas cedar, camphor, western sycamore, native oaks, coast redwood, bay laurel)" |
| Saratoga | Protected at 6″ DBH at 54″ | as "Native species (coast live, valley, tan, black, blue or scrub oak, big leaf maple, CA buckeye, Douglas fir, coast redwood)" |
| Sausalito | Protected at 10″ DBH at 54″ | as "Any other species on developed private property (heritage tree)" |
| South San Francisco | Protected at 48″ circumference at 54″ | as "Any other species" |
| Sunnyvale | Protected at 38″ circumference at 54″ | as "Any species" |
| Tiburon | Protected at 60″ circumference at 24″ | as "Any species (heritage size)" |
| Walnut Creek | Protected at 28″ circumference at 54″ | as "Any species" |
| Woodside | Protected at 24″ circumference at 48″ | as "Madrone, blue oak, buckeye, alder, big leaf maple, tanbark oak, Fremont cottonwood" |
Street trees, city-designated heritage trees and trees required by a development approval are protected at any size in every city. Dead or hazardous trees still need the permit unless the city page says otherwise.