Japanese maple vs Tatar maple

Japanese maple and Tatar maple are often considered for the same spot in the garden (specimen). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Japanese maple

Acer palmatum 2.5 m × 2 m after 10 years

A slow, graceful small tree or mounded shrub grown for its finely cut leaves and vivid autumn colour; it suits small gardens, entrances and large…

Small tree

Part shade

Full sun

from about HUF 10,000

Tatar maple

Acer tataricum 3.5 m × 2.5 m after 10 years

A tough native small tree or large multi-stemmed shrub with a rounded crown and unlobed, toothed leaves that fits into small gardens too.…

Small tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about HUF 4,000

Key differences

Tatar maple grows larger: 3.5 m × 2.5 m after ten years, against 2.5 m × 2 m for Japanese maple (an estimate: sources differ).
Tatar maple is hardier: down to -40 °C, against -23 °C for Japanese maple.
Tatar maple copes better with summer heat than Japanese maple (an estimate: sources differ).
Tatar maple tolerates drought better than Japanese maple.
Tatar maple also takes chalky soil, Japanese maple prefers acidic soil and struggles on chalk.
Tatar maple also takes heavy clay, Japanese maple needs a loose, free-draining soil.
Tatar maple needs less care than Japanese maple.
Tatar maple has pollen that can cause allergies, Japanese maple does not (an estimate: sources differ).

Which one to choose?

Japanese maple is the better choice if space is tight or someone in the family has a pollen allergy.

Tatar maple is the better choice if the garden is cold or a frost pocket, the spot is hot and sunny, you cannot water regularly or the soil is chalky.

Watch out for

Japanese maple

In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe leaf scorch is the main problem: in strong afternoon sun, drying wind or soil that dries out, the leaf edges brown and curl, and the tree can look bare by midsummer. Plant it facing east or in the dappled shade of taller trees, mulch it and water in drought. It leafs out early, so late spring frost can kill the new leaves. On limy, alkaline soil the foliage turns yellow. There is no cure for verticillium wilt (single branches die suddenly, with dark staining in the cut wood), so avoid sites where wilt has killed plants before. It bleeds heavily if pruned in spring; prune only in late autumn or midwinter.

Tatar maple

No serious pest or disease is known in Central Europe; the leaf miners, gall mites and gall midges living on its leaves cause only cosmetic damage. As on maples in general, verticillium wilt, leaf spots, tar spot, aphids and scale can occur, and the caterpillars of wood-boring moths may tunnel in the trunk. It sets a lot of seed, so seedlings can appear in nearby beds.

The data side by side

Feature	Japanese maple	Tatar maple
Group	Small tree	Small tree
Size after 10 years	2.5 m × 2 m (uncertain)	3.5 m × 2.5 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	1.5–10 m × 1.5–10 m (uncertain)	4.5–9 m × 4.5–8 m
Growth rate	Slow	Slow (uncertain)
Light	Part shade, Full sun	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Acidic, Sandy	Average garden soil, Clay, Calcareous
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Low	High (uncertain)
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, red, purple	April–June, white, green
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low	High
Maintenance	Medium	Low
Planting distance	300 cm	400 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic	no data
Typical price	about HUF 23,000 (100–150 cm)	about HUF 17,000 (200–300 cm)

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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