Is there a Japanese maple of any variety which will withstand full sun without leaf scorching or color alteration?
I consulted Japanese Maples, 4th edition, by J.D. Vertrees and Peter Gregory (Timber Press, 2009), which has a guide to uses and characteristics of different cultivars. Below is a list of the ones whose preferred light conditions are listed as “sun,” as opposed to “shade” or “any.” However, that probably doesn’t mean that they will withstand absolutely searing sun with a lot of reflected heat from pavement, etc. The authors say that green varieties and their cultivars take full sun very well, but may sunburn in late-summer heat. You can prevent this if the tree is planted where it will get afternoon shade, and if you are vigilant about watering. Avoid variegated forms, which will need semishade. Also, red-leaved cultivars require full sun if you are to obtain the best color from them.
- Amagi shigure
- Aoba jo
- Aratama
- Autumn Red
- Beni hime
- Beni yubi gohan
- Bewley’s Red
- Bloodgood
- Boskoop Glory
- Chirimen nishiki
- Crimson Carol
- Deshojo
- Dissectum Nigrum
- Dr. Tilt
- Eddisbury
- Emperor 1
- Fireglow
- Garnet
- Glowing Embers
- Hagoromo
- Kiri nishiki
- Kogane nishiki
- Margaret Bee
- Masu murasaki
- Matsugae
- Oshu shidare
- Otome zakura
- Pendulum Julian
- Pink Filigree
- Red Filigree Lace
- Red Flash
- Samidare
- Sekka yatsubusa
- Shaina
- Shigure zome
- Shikage ori nishiki
- Shojo
- Shojo shidare
- Stella Rossa
- Summer Gold
- Sunset
- Taki-no-gawa
- Tennyo-no-hoshi
- Trompenburg
- Vandermoss Red
- Villa Taranto
- Waterfall
- Watnong
- Yezo nishiki