Waterfall Japanese Maple

Bright green, finely cut laceleaf foliage that cascades like a waterfall — the most graceful and elegant of all the weeping Japanese maples.

Waterfall Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum dissectum 'Waterfall') is a green laceleaf maple prized for its extraordinarily graceful, cascading form and its brilliant seasonal color. The finely dissected, bright green leaves emerge in spring with a fresh, luminous quality and hold their color through summer before turning brilliant gold and orange in fall — one of the best fall color displays of any laceleaf maple. The long, arching branches cascade downward in a natural waterfall shape that becomes more dramatic and sculptural with every passing year. It's a four-season specimen that earns its place in the landscape year-round.

What I love about it

Waterfall is the Japanese maple for people who want elegance over drama. The bright green foliage is fresh and luminous — a beautiful contrast to the many red and purple laceleaf varieties — and the cascading form is genuinely breathtaking. The fall color is spectacular: brilliant gold and orange that glows in the autumn light. In winter the bare, arching branch structure is sculptural and beautiful on its own. Plant it near a water feature, a stone wall, or a patio where its graceful form can be appreciated up close. It's the kind of tree that makes a garden feel designed.

Plant Care Tips

• ☀️ Light: Full sun to part shade — afternoon shade appreciated in hot climates
• 💧 Water: Water deeply until established; moderate water needs once mature
• 🌡️ Temperature: Hardy to -20°F (Zone 5)
• 🪴 Difficulty: Easy — low-maintenance once established
• 🐾 Pet Safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs
• ✂️ Pruning: Minimal needed; light shaping in late winter if desired

Plant Specs

• Mature Size: 8–10 ft tall, 10–12 ft wide (wider than tall)
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
• Foliage: Bright green laceleaf; brilliant gold and orange fall color
• Form: Long, cascading waterfall shape
• Growing Zone: 5–8

Bloom bold. Be cheeky.