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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
Dodge had more than 45 varieties of Japanese maples, some planted in the ground but most in pots.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
The ideal small shade tree is a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum).
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 18 May 2024
In that camp: hostas, ferns, hydrangeas, Japanese maples, and many types of impatiens, coleus, and caladiums, among others.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2024
But in back, a two-story accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, offers something different: a 21st century take on Arts and Crafts architecture inspired, in part, by a mature Chinese elm and a smaller Japanese maple, whose branches commonly graze what was formerly a garage.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
The patio has nice landscaping consisting of camellias, azaleas and a small Japanese maple.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
My Japanese maples are unfurling, and leaves are appearing on most of my deciduous shrubs.
—Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2024
The Japanese maple houses the little nest from the hummingbirds last year.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 29 Feb. 2024
In addition to showcasing some of the state’s most stunning blooms in an authentic Japanese setting, the Richard & Helen Devos Japanese Garden has a contemplative Zen-style garden, waterfalls, bonsai trees, Japanese maple trees, and serviceberry trees — the latter also bloom in spring.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Japanese maple.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1898, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near Japanese maple
Cite this Entry
“Japanese maple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Japanese%20maple. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
Japanese maple
noun
: a maple native to Japan, China, and Korea with usually green, red, or purplish leaves
More from Merriam-Webster on Japanese maple
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Japanese maple
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