Checking In On The Northern Glow Korean Maple Tree - Front Yard Island Bed - July 2026

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A reader posted a comment on my post from May about the troubles the Arctic Jade Korean Maple was having and how it wasn't leaf'ing out.  They asked, not about the Arctic Jade, but about my first Korean Maple:  The Northern Glow.  

My journey with Korean Maples started back in Summer 2024 when I first posted this "Getting to Know" post about the tree after seeing it at The Growing Place in Naperville.  I planted it in July 2024 in the Island Bed in the middle of the Summer.   That is tough on any plant, but I think harder on ornamental maples that naturally want to be in part sun/dappled shade/full shade.  I ended up erecting a shade-cloth structure to help get the tree through July and August without getting scorched that first Summer. 

Here, below, is a photo from August 2024 showing the size of the tree and the shade cloth that I had set up:

Northern Glow Korean Maple Tree Protect from Sun

Here is a post from late August that shows the state of the Island Bed.  (It was tiny.  And...so too was the Northern Glow.)  Last Fall (Fall of 2025), the tree showed-off a little bit with a 'Fall show' on the foliage.  It also grew quite a bit in 2025.  

Which brings us to the current state of the tree.  It is the anchor to the newly-expanded Island Bed. And, has a fan-shape habit.  Below are a few photos showing the Northern Glow.  It is (seemingly) thriving in the front yard.  To date, I haven't touched the tree.  Not one prune or clip.  No shaping.  No removing.  Just letting it go.  

Northern Glow Korean Maple Tree

Northern Glow Korean Maple Tree

Northern Glow Korean Maple Tree

I should spend some time reading and watching videos about shaping ornamental maples.  Do you limb-them-up?  Do you shape them in some other way?  This post from Iseli Nursery is where I'll start.  

As to answering the comment, I'll say this:  The Northern Glow is thriving.  

I (now) have four Korean Maples:

1.  Northern Glow.  Thriving in the front yard Island Bed.

2.  Arctic Jade.  Dead.  Perhaps a disease.  It thrived in year one.

3.  Alpenglow.  Planted this year.  Used the warranty on the Arctic Jade to try this one.  Too soon to tell. 

4.  North Wind.  Planted this year, too.  Too soon to tell.  


Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA

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