Maple
Waterfall
Acer palmatum
One of the absolute finest green weeping lace-leaf Japanese Maples available in the trade. 'Waterfall' features long, sweeping, heavily pendulous branches that form a magnificent, low-mounding umbrella. The large, intricate leaves are deeply cut and finely dissected into delicate ribbons. Emerging a luminous chartreuse in spring, the canopy settles into a cool, deep emerald green for summer that displays exceptional resistance to heat-bleaching. True to its name, the autumn transformation resembles a rolling cascade of liquid fire, flashing brilliant shades of gold, amber, warm apricot, and bright crimson.
Growing Specifications
- Height
- 6-8 feet
- Spread
- 10-12 feet (Spreads into a grand, sweeping dome twice as wide as it is tall)
- Watering
- Regular, deep structural root irrigation; highly intolerant of dry root zones
- Light
- Morning sun, afternoon shade
- Heat Tolerance
- Good to Excellent; far sturdier and more sun-stable than 'Viridis'
- Growth Rate
- Slow to Moderate (Vigorous branch extension for a pendulous cultivar)
- Soil Requirement
- Porous, rich, highly organic, sharply well-draining, slightly acidic
North Texas Micro-climate Notes
Expert Curated Selection. In North Texas, this green lace-leaf handles the ambient thermal environment brilliantly if its roots are coddled. Because its leaves are rich in dark green chlorophyll, it captures solar energy efficiently; however, its thin, filigree leaf edges will singe under direct 100°F+ afternoon wind currents. Position it where it receives ample morning sun up until 1 PM, backed by a deep 3-inch blanket of organic mulch to stabilize root moisture. Protect from the dry southwest 3 PM gale tunnels.
History & Lineage
- INTRODUCED BY
- Henry Hohman (Kingsville Nurseries)
- HISTORY
- Selected, named, and introduced to Western commerce in the mid-20th century by the legendary plantsman Henry Hohman of Kingsville Nurseries in Maryland. Chosen for its advanced structural vigor and superior leaf retention, it has stood the test of time as an international favorite, earning the Royal Horticultural Society's prestigious Award of Garden Merit.
Care Instructions
Demands high-porosity soil with pristine drainage; never allow the roots to settle into dense, compacted clay. Stake a central structural leader early on if you wish to lift its cascading crown for path clearance; otherwise, allow its dynamic arms to sweep low to the grade line. Perform a slow, deep baseline root-soaking weekly throughout summer high-heat stretches.
Landscape Usage
Sensational as an asymmetrical architectural feature draped over massive landscape boulders, spilling elegantly into modern stone courtyard beds, flanking quiet water features, or showcased beautifully as a sweeping container focal point in a modern Japandi design layout.
Fun Fact
Because its individual branching arms stretch out with far greater strength and elongation than older green lace-leaves, 'Waterfall' develops a much more dramatic, fluid, pouring-water visual profile. This structural habit makes it look significantly more architectural at a younger age.
Awards
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Award of Garden Merit
