Some cultivars and some seedlings of Japanese Maples are suited for open, full sun field growing conditions---some are not! We at Homestead Tree Farms are still learning which will survive and which will not.
In general, most grafted cultivars will have a difficult time in the open field in South Alabama during the Summer--even with adequate rainfall and irrigation---while young (under three years from grafting). It seems that leaf transpiration is just too great for the cambium junction's water supplying ability.
Some do survive and grow. We have about 300 in the open field at present and another 300 under partial shade between the rows of a pine plantation. Green seedling Japanese Maples are ready for transplanting at present.
