Frank Jr Japanese Maple

Frank Jr Japanese Maple (Acer rubrum 'Frank Jr', sold worldwide as Redpointe) is a broadly pyramidal shade tree reaching about 9m tall and 5m wide, with dependable scarlet autumn colour and a straight central leader that needs almost no shaping. Despite the common name it is a red maple rather than a true Japanese maple, and that works in your favour: it is faster, larger and far more forgiving of heat, wind and wet ground than the delicate Acer palmatum types. Planted 4m apart it makes an even, matched avenue within a few seasons.

Why you'll love it

• Autumn colour that shows up every year. Redpointe was selected for consistent scarlet rather than the muddy orange of seedling red maples.
• It builds its own shape. A strong central leader and evenly spaced branches give a tidy pyramid without staking or corrective pruning.
• Wet feet are not a problem. Few good shade trees tolerate ground that stays damp after rain, which makes this one useful in the flat, heavy corner of a block.
• Fast enough to matter. It puts on real height while you are still living there.
• Tough in exposure. Frost hardy, heat tolerant and wind tolerant, so it holds up on open sites and hot western aspects.

Where it works best

Shade over a lawn or patio. A broad, high canopy cools the house through summer, then drops and lets the winter sun back in.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 4m apart. The uniform habit is the point: a row reads as one designed element rather than a collection of individuals.

Screening and feature planting. Because it branches high it screens a two storey outlook rather than a fence line, and a single tree gives a different picture in every season.

Growing Frank Jr Redpointe in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the best colour and the densest canopy. This is a tree for cool temperate and warm temperate gardens: Victoria, the ACT, southern and inland New South Wales, the Adelaide region and cooler parts of Western Australia. Tropical and subtropical gardens lack the winter chill for reliable colour.

Soil. Not fussy about texture and happy on clay, but it prefers deep soil that holds some moisture. On very alkaline ground red maples can yellow between the leaf veins, so add compost and use an iron chelate if that appears. Mulch 75mm deep to the drip line, kept off the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then reduce. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is all it needs.

Pruning. Very little. Take out crossing or damaged wood in late autumn or early winter. Avoid cutting in late winter and spring, when maples bleed sap heavily from fresh wounds.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in four sizes: a 400mm pot, then 45L, 100L and 200L. All are advanced stock with a formed leader and real height on day one, so this tree suits people who want presence quickly rather than a long establishment wait. Delivered between late autumn and early spring it will be leafless, which is normal for a deciduous tree and not a fault.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a settling period of a few weeks, then strong growth in the first full spring. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare other deciduous trees with autumn colour
• Browse the full range of trees
• Preparing ground before planting a new tree

Common questions

Is this actually a Japanese maple?

No. It is listed under that common name, but botanically it is Acer rubrum, the American red maple: a bigger, hardier and faster tree. Buy it for shade and autumn colour, not for a courtyard.

Will it colour up in a warmer garden?

In warm temperate gardens such as Sydney, Perth and the Adelaide plains you will get good red, usually later and a little softer than in Melbourne or the tablelands.

How close to paving or a house can I plant it?

At least 5m, and more if you can. It grows to about 5m wide and the roots spread well beyond that, so a tight position leads to lifted paving later.