Are Japanese maples delicate?

Actually, most of them are extremely hardy.  Most prefer shade about forty percent of the day, about four and a half hours of a summer day.  Also, open soil structure with good aeration, and moderate moisture (not too wet, not too dry) will keep them happy.  They may seem more delicate because of the higher price and more intense colors than other tree.  As almost no Japanese maple cultivar can be reproduced by seed, and the plants must be grafted, it is the propagation cost that causes the increase in price.