Emperor 1 Japanese Maple - 3rd Growing Season - Late Fall - October 2026

A few years back, after researching Japanese Maples, I ended up buying my first Emperor 1 Japanese Maple.  Emperor 1 is similar to Bloodgood Japanese Maple in looks (dark leaf), but it seems it might be a bit more cold tolerant, so it works well in our Zone 6a/5b border garden.

I bought the Emperor 1 and planted it back by the firepit.  That was 2021. 

2024 was one of those 17-year cicada years here in the suburbs of Chicago.  That means that we were SWARMED by them.  I did the best I could to try to protect some things with tulle, but they're aggressive and ended up killing off that Emperor 1.  It was pretty good sized at the time. 

Before it was lost, I came across a second one.  Smaller.  From a Big Box nursery.  In May of 2023, I planted it in the front edge of the [kitchen curved] bed in our backyard.  It was a bit taller than knee-high, but not quite up to my waist.

By August that first year (August 2023), the tree had put on some top growth.  And, seemed to have begun to establish itself.  This is a part-shade area of the garden.  But, it gets full shade beginning in the early afternoon, so it avoids the heat of the afternoon sun.  

Note:  With that initial success, I ended up adding another tiny Emperor 1 to the other side of the garden in 2024 when I found it on a deep sale.  That means we're currently sitting at two Emperor 1s.

A year later, the second one seemed to survive the cicadas and was again putting on more growth late in the growing season (August 2024).  

Now, at the end of the third growing season, the tree has added size.  With a single, primary trunk and an emerging fan-shape with multiple branches reaching up and out.  Here, below, is the view from the house - facing the purple-leafed Japanese Maple tree:

And, here, below, is a view from the back - facing the house.  I said that this gets part-sun, with afternoon shade.  If you look at the way this is growing/tilting, it almost looks like it is reaching out, towards the yard, towards the light.  Behind it - to the right in the photo below - is a tall stand of large, mature shade trees.  

I've *tried* to solve the rabbit issue this year with perimeter fencing to try to keep them out.  But, I continue to find them getting in.  Occasionally.  It is somewhat frustrating.  I don't know how they're getting in, nor out.  I have continued to make some little upgrades to the fence.  But, I know there are likely still vulnerabilities.  

That means that I'm going to have to protect this trunk from the rabbits this Winter.  

I've talked about repetition as part of the equation of legibility and how the red/purple foliage of these Japanese Maples can bounce your eye to/from each side of the backyard.  I added an Alpenglow Korean Maple this year, to the northside.  That made the 3rd dark-leaf maple.  I could find a home for a couple more in 2027.  

Note to future Jake:  Get some chicken wire out and protect this tree (and the other Japanese and Korean Maples) before the snow falls.  Also, put adding another Emperor 1 (or other dark-leaf maple) to the backyard in 2027.