Martha Stewart's fall garden must-have is a seasonal staple for good reason – here's why we're adding Japanese maples to our wish lists

When it comes to gardening and landscaping inspiration, Martha Stewart is a consistent source of beautiful ideas, particularly as the seasons change.

With autumn starting a few days ago, we have been fantasizing about our fall gardens, and leave it to Martha to show us one of the must-have plants for the season: Japanese maple. Also known as Acers, these plants are lush and assorted in their shapes and sizes, as evidenced by Martha's variety displayed on her Instagram page.

'Always excited to receive a delivery from @monroviaplants,' she captions the post. 'They are known for their Japanese maples. In fact, they grow more than 30 varieties of Acers, with beautiful branching and shaping. This selection showcases the various growing habits, heights, and leaf colors of the Japanese maples I will soon add to my gardens.'

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According to gardening experts, Japanese maples are fall favorites for good reason, developing leaves that tap into traditional, seasonal colors.

'Acers, or Japanese maples, are an instant autumn win with leaves that transform into spectacular shades of red, orange, and yellow as the season progresses,' explains Julian Palphramand, head of plants at the British Garden Centre. 'This makes them a beautiful focal point in borders or larger containers.'

When it comes to caring for Japanese maples, Julian explains that location is crucial to growth and overall health, while care, though simple, must be routine in order for these gorgeous trees to thrive.

'Acers prefer sheltered spots and well-drained soil, and their seasonal colour change provides an elegant transition into cooler months,' he states.

Too little light, and your Japanese maple may turn green; however, a bit of sun is helpful in these plants reaching their full coloring potential.

With gorgeous, crisp leaves and straightforward care instructions, Japanese maples are absolutely on our fall garden checklist for the 2025 season.