More about Koto No Ito Japanese Maple...

One of the most unique varieties in our garden, Koto No Ito mean "String of a Harp," and rightfully so. The leaves of the Koto No Ito Japanese maple are deeply cut into very thin lobes, hence the name. The leaves emerge in bright yellow-green in the spring, turn to a darker green for the summer, and then turn orange and yellow in the fall. Even after 30 years, the Koto No Ito will only reach 12 feet tall, so it is a great container tree or specimen planting for a small garden. And the thinly cut leaves give the tree a very soft appearance with a lot of movement in the wind.  The smooth light green bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest. Wonderful in containers or bonsai and a spectacular garden accent.  It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

Japanese maples stand out best when they are planted as a single specimen or in small groupings. Use them to accentuate an entryway or as a focal point to draw attention to a certain area of the landscape or home. Be careful not too overcrowd your Japanese Maple. We suggest underplanting with dwarf, low growing shrubs or groundcovers.

Culture & Care

When provided the right environment in the landscape Japanese Maples are very easy to grow and care for, and long lived.

Soil - Japanese maples adapt well to many soil types provided there is good drainage. Consistently wet or soggy soils can be a killer.

Sun -  Some varieties will tolerate full sun. However, in their natural habitat, Japanese Maples are understory trees, growing in dappled forest sunlight and at the edges of partially shaded woodlands. Ideally they prefer to be grown in similar conditions, especially in the warmer climate of the Deep South.

Water - During the first two summers after planting a Japanese Maple, make sure to water enough to keep soil damp but not soggy. Constantly wet feet can cause serious problems. Proper planting method can ensure proper drainage over the long term.

Pruning - When a specific variety of Japanese maple is planted in the right size space; where it have room to grow to mature size, rarely will it require pruning. That beings said, removal of damaged or stray branches that spoil the form of the tree can be performed almost any time of year. Heavy or major pruning is best left to professionals. If you hire someone to prune your Japanese maple make sure he/she has the credentials and ALWAYS check references.

Planting Your Japanese Maple

SEE: Detailed Planting Instructions For How To Plant A Japanese Maple in the Ground