Maple Leaf Farms - Garden Center & Country Store in Manalapan, NJ

Welcome to Maple Leaf Farms, your local destination for premium plants, trees, shrubs, perennials, garden decor, mulch, and expert horticulture support in Central New Jersey. Our extensive plant nursery offers high-quality Emerald Green Arborvitae, Green Giant Arborvitae, Boxwoods, Hydrangeas, Rhododendrons, Viburnums, Crape Myrtles, Japanese Maples, and hundreds of seasonal varieties. Whether you're a landscaper, homeowner, or DIY gardener, we serve both retail and wholesale needs with unbeatable prices and massive inventory.

We specialize in horticulture support, offering custom landscape designs, consultations, plant selection guidance, and site-appropriate recommendations. From perennials and ornamental grasses to flowering trees and privacy hedges, we help you build long-lasting, vibrant landscapes that thrive in the Northeast. Our knowledgeable team includes certified horticulture professionals and landscape designers who can work with you directly or coordinate with your contractor.

Visit our rustic country store for home and garden decor, seasonal goods, soil amendments, fertilizers, bagged mulch, and more. Our farm hosts seasonal events, family attractions, fall festivals, and Christmas markets with hayrides, photo ops, and specialty gifts. Our mission: deliver horticulture with heart, expertise, and unbeatable value. Stop by today or explore our services online.

Services we offer:

Our plants include arborvitae, boxwoods, hollies, azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, ornamental grasses, perennials, roses, flowering trees, Japanese maples, fruit trees, native plants, pollinator plants, shade trees, flowering shrubs, evergreen screening trees, and much more. Stop in and experience why Maple Leaf Farms is Central New Jersey’s top-rated garden center, trusted by landscapers and home gardeners alike.

Popular categories: Emerald Green Arborvitae, Green Giant Arborvitae, Boxwood Varieties, Hydrangeas (Endless Summer, Limelight, Little Lime), Perennials (Catmint, Salvia, Coral Bells, Black Eyed Susan), Grasses (Maiden Grass, Karl Foerster, Zebra Grass), Trees (Red Maples, Dogwoods, Serviceberry, Kousa Dogwood, Cherry Trees), and Seasonal Flowers (Pansies, Petunias, Marigolds).

New Jersey’s Premier Wholesale Nursery, Garden Center & Plant Specialist

Maple Leaf Farms is your one-stop horticulture destination in New Jersey for everything related to trees, shrubs, perennials, privacy plants, native plants, tropicals, houseplants, and decorative garden products. We serve both retail and wholesale customers, with one of the most diverse and complete selections of plant material in Central NJ. Whether you’re planting a new landscape, adding privacy to your yard, or sourcing plant material for commercial jobs, Maple Leaf Farms delivers value, quality, and expert guidance you can trust.

We are known for our high-volume stock of arborvitae, including 6-10 ft Green Giants, Emerald Green Arborvitae, Nigra Arborvitae, and Degroot’s Spire – available by the dozen or in bulk for privacy hedges. Landscapers, municipalities, property developers, and homeowners turn to us for affordable wholesale pricing and consistent availability.

Looking for perennials and native plants? Our native plant selection includes Echinacea (Coneflower), Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan), Baptisia, Bee Balm, Asters, Coreopsis, Amsonia, and Solidago – all grown to thrive in the Northeast. We also carry native ornamental grasses, ferns, and sedges. Our pollinator and butterfly gardens feature Buddleia (Butterfly Bush), Milkweed, Yarrow, and more. Each perennial is selected for bloom time, durability, and its ability to support bees, butterflies, and birds.

Inside our greenhouse, you’ll find a curated collection of houseplants including Peace Lilies, Snake Plants, ZZ Plants, Ficus, Dracaena, Palms, Philodendron, Pothos, Alocasia, and rare collector varieties. Whether you’re furnishing an office, home, or storefront, our healthy, established tropical and indoor plants are ready to impress.

In addition to retail-ready material, we specialize in sourcing large caliper specimen trees and field-grown material. We offer on-site pickup or flat-rate delivery with experienced loaders and the ability to assist contractors with large-scale planting jobs. Our country store complements our outdoor sales yard with fertilizers, soil conditioners, mulch, and garden products. And our seasonal farm events bring in thousands of visitors each year for festivals, farm fun, and live entertainment.

Don’t settle for average. Discover why Maple Leaf Farms is the trusted name in NJ for wholesale plants, horticulture expertise, and personalized customer service.

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Japanese Maples at Maple Leaf Farms 🌳

  • Writer: Maple Leaf Farms
    Maple Leaf Farms
  • Sep 6, 2025
  • 3 min read

A Guide to Varieties, Selection, and Care


Japanese maples bring refined color and structure to New Jersey gardens. From upright red forms to cascading laceleaf weepers, they fit small entry beds, courtyards, and larger landscapes. Supply is always limited on the more exotic selections. We bring them in early each season, quantities vary, and certain names sell out quickly.


A Shishigashira Dwarf Japanese Maple

🌱 What We Carry

Availability changes week to week. What we carry equals what is in stock. First come, first serve. No online sales or holds. Payment and delivery scheduling are in person only.


📆 Core Lineup We Target Each Season

These are the names customers ask for most and that we aim to have each spring and fall:

  • Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku' – Coral Bark. Four-season interest with coral-colored young wood.

  • Acer palmatum 'Emperor I' – Upright red with strong color retention.

  • Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' – Classic upright red.

  • Acer palmatum dissectum 'Viridis' – Weeping green laceleaf.

  • Acer palmatum dissectum 'Tamukeyama' – Weeping burgundy laceleaf.

  • Acer palmatum dissectum 'Red Dragon' – Weeping deep red laceleaf.

  • Acer palmatum dissectum 'Inaba shidare' – Weeping red with graceful cascading habit.

  • Acer palmatum dissectum 'Crimson Queen' – Weeping red with finely cut foliage and elegant form.


❄️ Rotating & Limited Selections We Commonly Bring In

Names below appear frequently but not every year. Quantities are limited and go quickly. These are cultivars you can expect, but not always as some years we may get just a few. If there is one you're looking for, let us know and we’ll try to bring it in next season. Exotic cultivars are brought in; standard types are grown on site.

  • Garnet (Rich red laceleaf)

  • Orangeola (Cascading orange-red tones)

  • Fireglow (Deep red with glowing leaf effect)

  • Shaina (Compact red)

  • Seiryu (Rare upright laceleaf)

  • Butterfly (Green and cream variegation)

  • Beni Kawa (Coral bark type)

  • Katsura (Early spring orange to yellow flush)

  • Koto no ito (Fine ribbon-like leaves)

  • Shishigashira (Lion head texture)

  • Osakazuki (Brilliant scarlet fall color)

  • Orange Dream (Spring orange-gold tones)

  • Mikawa yatsubusa (Dwarf architectural form)

  • Peaches and Cream (Variegated lace)

  • Skeeter’s Broom (Narrow, upright red)

  • Ukigumo (Floating cloud variegation)

  • Kagiri Nishiki (Creamy variegated edges)

  • Krazy Krinkle (Crumpled foliage texture)

  • Kinran (Golden thread leaf highlights)

  • Orido Nishiki (Blended pink, white, and green)

  • Purple Ghost (Ghost series with rich purple tones)

  • Shishigashira (Lion head texture)

  • Shirasawanum Yasemin (Rare golden-orange flush)

  • Senkaki (Coral bark form, another name for Sango Kaku)


💡 How to Choose the Right Japanese Maple

Shape

  • Upright trees build a small canopy ideal for entry focal points.

  • Weeping laceleaf trees create a cascading dome that softens hardscape and features.


Mature Size

  • Upright forms: 12–20 ft tall in NJ

  • Laceleaf weepers: 6–10 ft wide x 4–8 ft tall


Seasonal Color

  • Reds (Bloodgood, Emperor One) hold color all season and glow in fall.

  • Greens (Viridis) shift from lime to golden fall shades.

  • Coral bark types add winter interest.


Sun & Exposure

  • Best: Morning sun + afternoon shade

  • Can tolerate more sun once established in well-drained soil

  • Protect from harsh afternoon reflection


Container vs. In-Ground

  • Compact types (Shaina, Mikawa Yatsubusa) work in large containers

  • Most are best in-ground with room to grow


🌾 Planting & Care Basics in NJ


Site & Soil

  • Well-drained

  • Enrich with organic matter


Watering

  • Deep water at planting

  • Keep evenly moist while roots establish


Mulch

  • 2-3” of mulch

  • Keep mulch away from trunk flare


Pruning

  • Light shaping only

  • Avoid heavy winter cuts


Winter Tips

  • New trees prefer wind-sheltered spots

  • Mulch to stabilize winter soil temps


🌧️ Shopping & Availability Notes

  • Selection varies week to week, season to season

  • Exotic types arrive early and go fast

  • No online sales or reservations

  • Delivery available

  • Payment and delivery must be handled in person


🌿 Visit Maple Leaf Farms

Stop in to explore our Japanese maple selection, get care advice, and see shapes side by side. Our team will help you find the perfect tree for your space and style.

📍 Address: 525 US-9, Manalapan, NJ 07726

⏰ Hours: Open Daily 9AM–5PM



A Coral Bark Japanese Maple Tree

❓ FAQ Section

Are Japanese maples deer resistant?

Many varieties are moderately deer resistant, but protection may be needed in high-pressure areas.


Can Japanese maples grow in containers?

Yes! Compact types like Mikawa Yatsubusa and Shaina do well in large pots.


When is the best time to plant?

Early spring and fall are ideal.


Do you deliver?

Yes, within a 10–15 mile radius. Delivery fee applies. Payment and scheduling are done in person.


Do you hold or reserve trees?

No. All purchases are first come, first serve, in person only.

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Follow us for updates, seasonal sales, planting tips, and farm events!

We’re open year-round, 7 days a week. Family-owned, customer-trusted. Serving Manalapan, Freehold, Marlboro, Howell, Colts Neck, Old Bridge, Jackson, Monroe, and all of Central New Jersey.

Thank you for choosing Maple Leaf Farms – Growing with Passion, Rooted in Tradition.

Serving New Jersey With the Widest Selection of Plants

From our extensive selection of landscape shrubs such as Boxwoods, Hollies, Viburnum, Spirea, Forsythia, and Hydrangea to our towering shade trees like Oaks, Maples, Birch, and Redbuds, we offer premium-grade nursery stock at pricing that reflects our grower-direct approach. Homeowners come from all over the tri-state region because we carry large, mature plants at lower prices than big box stores.

Maple Leaf Farms is also the go-to source for businesses seeking commercial planting solutions. We carry DOT-approved trees, deer-resistant options, and drought-tolerant species. We offer bulk flat pricing on hundreds of shrubs and perennials and stock top brands like Proven Winners, Monrovia, First Editions, and hand-selected growers.

Our team includes certified horticulturists and plant specialists who provide free in-store consultations and paid design services for advanced projects. Whether you need curb appeal, foundation coverage, color through the seasons, or solutions for wet, shady, or rocky areas, we’ll help you build a custom plant list that performs. From new construction to historic restoration, we’re with you from soil to success.

Visit Maple Leaf Farms at 525 Route 9 South, Manalapan, NJ. Call us at 732-851-4400 or email mapleleaffarmsnj@gmail.com. Open daily from 9AM to 5PM. Check out our inventory in person – we do not sell online. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for live inventory updates, garden inspiration, and event news.