In their natural habitat they grow in the understory; most cultivars prefer part shade, especially in hotter climates, but they will also grow in heavy shade.
Some cultivars will tolerate full sun, moreso at higher latitudes and less at lower latitudes; red, purple-red, black-red, bronze, and some dark green cultivars are generally more full sun tolerant.
 Variegated white, cream, yellow, yellow-orange or light green cultivars mostly require shade protection.
 Almost all are adaptable and blend well with companion plants.
The trees are particularly suitable for borders and ornamental paths because the root systems are compact and not invasive.
 Many varieties of Acer palmatum are successfully grown in containers.
 Trees are prone to die during periods of drought and prefer consistent water conditions; more established trees are less prone to drought.
 They benefit from being mulched yearly with a 2" layer of aged organic matter mulch, covering at least beyond the entire drip-line of the tree, but not allowed to touch the bark at the base of the tree.
 Moderate to well-drained soil is essential as they will not survive in poorly drained waterlogged soil.
Trees do not require or appreciate heavy fertilization and should only be very lightly fertilized, preferably using polymer coated slow-release fertilizer with a 3 to 1 ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus respectively, or preferably a bio-solid based fertilizer like a 6-4-0 N-P-K.  High Nitrogen lawn fertilizer should be avoided in the immediate vicinity of these trees, as excessive nitrogen can cause overly vigorous growth that is not consistent with the natural form of the tree, and is prone to dieback and pathogens.

Japanese Maples are best to grow in hardiness zones 5-8.
In their natural habitat they grow in the understory; most cultivars prefer part shade, especially in hotter climates, but they will also grow in heavy shade. Some cultivars will tolerate full sun, moreso at higher latitudes and less at lower latitudes; red, purple-red, black-red, bronze, and some dark green cultivars are generally more full sun tolerant.  Variegated white, cream, yellow, yellow-orange or light green cultivars mostly require shade protection.  Almost all are adaptable and blend well with companion plants. The trees are particularly suitable for borders and ornamental paths because the root systems are compact and not invasive.  Many varieties of Acer palmatum are successfully grown in containers.  Trees are prone to die during periods of drought and prefer consistent water conditions; more established trees are less prone to drought.  They benefit from being mulched yearly with a 2" layer of aged organic matter mulch, covering at least beyond the entire drip-line of the tree, but not allowed to touch the bark at the base of the tree.  Moderate to well-drained soil is essential as they will not survive in poorly drained waterlogged soil. Trees do not require or appreciate heavy fertilization and should only be very lightly fertilized, preferably using polymer coated slow-release fertilizer with a 3 to 1 ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus respectively, or preferably a bio-solid based fertilizer like a 6-4-0 N-P-K.  High Nitrogen lawn fertilizer should be avoided in the immediate vicinity of these trees, as excessive nitrogen can cause overly vigorous growth that is not consistent with the natural form of the tree, and is prone to dieback and pathogens.
Japanese Maples are best to grow in hardiness zones 5-8.
Acer palmatum