Trees

Acer palmatum 'Wolff'

Red Emperor Japanese maple

Emperor I Japanese maple foliage. Red Emperor is listed as a synonym by RHS. Photo: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. photograph, not current inventory.

Also sold as Emperor I, this red-leaved Japanese maple has an upright crown, burgundy foliage through summer and a crimson autumn display. Its leaves emerge later than many Japanese maples, helping avoid spring frost. The nursery lists a ten-year size of 15–18 feet high and 12–15 feet wide. Give its developing crown space and shelter young roots from drying out.

At a glance

Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Size: Height: 15–18 ft in 10 years (nursery estimate) · Width: 12–15 ft in 10 years (nursery estimate)
Water: Evenly moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness: USDA 5–8

Sizes & prices

#5$189.99

Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.

Ask about this plant

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Landscape use & tree form

Use: Ornamental specimen
Foliage: Deciduous
Form: Upright
Growth rate: Moderate to fast (nursery description)

Resistance & tolerances

Drought: Water during prolonged dry spells, particularly while establishing.
Wet soil: Avoid persistently waterlogged roots.

Seasonal interest

Fall color: Red
Foliage: Burgundy in spring and summer

Growing & care

Soil: Humus-rich, moist but freely draining soil; avoid saturated planting pockets.
Pruning: Prune lightly to remove dead or crossing branches, preserving the natural outline. Make elective cuts after full leaf expansion to limit sap bleeding.

Sources & photo credits

Maple Ridge Nursery

NC State Extension

Royal Horticultural Society

The Morton Arboretum

Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Image notes: Emperor I Japanese maple foliage. Red Emperor is listed as a synonym by RHS. Photo: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia 960 px thumbnail; no other edits. photograph, not current inventory.

Reviewed October 1, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.