
Apply the manufacturer’s recommended amount of fertilizer once a year and your maple will be fine all year long. Use a slow-release multipurpose fertilizer for this purpose. It’s best to fertilize maples in early spring before the leaves even appear. Also, improve air exchange around the crown and don’t overwater the tree.Īnother commonality is the need for nutrients. To remedy this, spray the maple with a multi-purpose fungicide. This can be leaf spot as well as Verticillium wilt. Unfortunately, Japanese maples can fall victim to a variety of diseases. Avoid planting these maples near places where rainwater collects. Mix the compost well with the native soil and only then plant. To avoid this, before planting, pour 1-2 buckets of good-quality compost into the planting hole. The fact is that Japanese maples do not like stagnant water and can react with root rot if the soil is constantly wet.

The first thing both varieties need is nutritious and well-drained soil. Let’s look at the similarities of both maples to get a better understanding of the topic. It can grow in direct sun in zones 5-8 and only needs some shade in zone 9.Īs a result, Waterfall is better suited for container growing because it is less sensitive to overheating in hot summers. This variety tolerates hot conditions and direct sun better. This variety needs partial shade no matter what zone it is growing in. This means that it is quite tolerant of low temperatures. However, it will require a bit more space in the yard than a competitor.Īs for hardiness, there are some differences as well, so let’s review this issue. In general, we can say that Waterfall has a more interesting shape because it grows wider, which emphasizes its weeping effect. This implies that it is more umbrella-shaped. At maturity, it can reach about 10 feet tall and up to 12 feet wide. Its shape resembles a mound that is the same height and width. After many years of cultivation, it can grow to 9 feet tall and the same width. The shape and size of both maples are slightly different and this is worth discussing.īy ten years of age, Viridis reaches about five feet in height and width. If you leave it in the sun all day, it can burn. The afternoon sun produces the most negative effect on this variety. It is best to give it about six hours of direct sun in the morning and leave it in the shade the rest of the day. It needs partial shade wherever it can be grown. Viridis is not as sun-tolerant as Waterfall.
Waterfall japanese maple height full#
What you definitely want to avoid is planting in full shade. So it can only get direct sun for part of the day.

That means it can grow in an open spot and receive direct sunlight all day long. Waterfall tolerates the direct sun very well. Not all Japanese maples are equally tolerant to direct sun, which is true of our varieties. The second difference is the tolerance to direct sun. However, one must keep in mind that color depends a lot on growing conditions and climate. In general, we can say that Waterfall has brighter and more beautiful leaves than Viridis. While Waterfall turns bright orange almost immediately and some leaves may even turn red. By midsummer, they become even more deep green and a little darker.īoth varieties change color in the fall. Waterfall has more vibrant leaves at the beginning of the season. By midseason, the color gets a little brighter, but it still does not equal its competitor. Viridis has a less intense green color, and at the beginning of the season, it can be pale.

However, the shade of green is different. In this article, you will learn about everything that sets them apart in great detail.īoth maples have green leaves and that is generally true. Also, Waterfall is more resistant to direct sun and hot climates than Viridis.īut these are not all the differences between these maples. At the same time, the Viridis leaves are slightly pale green. The major difference between Viridis and Waterfall is that Waterfall has a richer green leaf color. Add to that the weeping shape and you have a fabulous plant. Japanese maples with dissected leaves have a sophisticated and remarkable appearance.
