Japanese maple

noun

: a maple (Acer palmatum) of Japan, China, and Korea with purple flowers and usually deeply parted leaves that is widely cultivated as a shrub or small tree

Examples of Japanese maple in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That starts at the facade, where stone and hardwood features pop against coral bark Japanese maple trees. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2026

Trees commonly grown near utility infrastructure include crepe myrtle, redbud, Japanese maple, dogwood, and serviceberry. —Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 25 Feb. 2026

Inaba Shidare and many other Japanese maple trees fit the bill, for example, and are highly valued for their form and foliage. —David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026

Almost any season is good to prune Japanese maples, but late winter to early spring is the best time for any major pruning since the tree is dormant and there’s no new growth. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Japanese maple

• papal
• staple

Kids Definition

Japanese maple

noun

: a maple native to Japan, China, and Korea with usually green, red, or purplish leaves