Ivyleaf Maple Acer cissifolium
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser siss-ih-FOH-lee-um
- Description
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Ivy-leaved maple, is a deciduous tree in the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family native to mountainous areas of Japan. It is a fairly small tree typically growing up to 20 to 30 feet tall. While the initial growth is upright oval, with age it may become distinctly mushroom-like with wide-spreading, globose form. It has gray bark and dislikes summer heat.
Plant in the full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. See potential disease and insect problem fact sheets to the left.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Shade Garden Sitting Wall
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- cissifolium
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Small fragrant yellow flowers bloom in pendant racemes (to 4” long) in spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 1.5 to 3 in., opposite, and trifoliate. They are olive green in summer and have a modest yellow, red fall color. 1 1/2" -3" long leaflet, obovate or ovate to elliptic, long acuminate, cuneate, medium green above, glabrous, whitish tufts in axils of veins below, Zelkova-like serrations.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth gray bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Slender, pubescent, reddish purple in first year turning to a gray brown in the second year. Buds are terminal: reddish-purple 3/16" long, valvate, pubescent, lower part of bud glabrous. laterals: similar, 1/2 as long, appressed.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
