Can Japanese Maples Survive a 100-Year Drought? | July 10, 2026 Garden Tour

Welcome to another Japanese Maple Garden Tour from my garden in Central Virginia! In today's July 10, 2026 update, I'll walk you through the garden after an incredible week of weather changes. After enduring a historic heat wave with consecutive days over 100°F and what has been described as a 100-year drought, we finally received some much-needed rainfall. Over the last three out of four days, afternoon thunderstorms brought approximately 1.25 inches of rain, giving the garden a much-needed drink after weeks of extremely dry conditions. During this tour, I stop at many of my Japanese maples that are thriving in my garden despite these challenging conditions and share my personal experiences growing them in my Central Virginia garden. Featured cultivars include Mikawa Yatsubusa, Orangeola, Summer Gold, Mila, Dr. Brown, Hot Sauce, Sensu, Baldsmith, Alan's Gold, Beni Shi En, and Butterfly, along with many other Japanese maples throughout the garden. I'll discuss what makes each tree unique, how it has handled the summer heat and drought, where I have it planted, and who I think should consider adding it to their own landscape. My goal is to help you determine whether one of these cultivars is the right choice for your garden and growing conditions. Even after weeks of extreme weather, many of these Japanese maples continue to look outstanding, proving that choosing the right cultivar and planting it in the proper location can make all the difference. Whether you're new to Japanese maples or a long-time collector, I hope this garden tour gives you inspiration, practical growing tips, and a realistic look at how these beautiful trees perform during one of the toughest summers I've experienced. If you have any questions about any of the Japanese maples featured in today's tour, be sure to leave them in the comments below. I'd be happy to share my experience and help you choose the best Japanese maple for your garden. If you enjoy Japanese maple garden tours, cultivar reviews, growing tips, and honest long-term experiences from a real garden, don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you won't miss future videos. Some of the Featured Japanese Maples: • Mikawa Yatsubusa • Orangeola • Summer Gold • Mila • Dr. Brown • Hot Sauce • Sensu • Alan's Gold • Beni Shi En • Butterfly