Acer crataegifolium
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser krah-tee-gi-FOH-lee-um
- Description
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Hawthorn maple is a deciduous small tree or large shrub in the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family native to Japan. With its green to greenish-brown and white striped bark that resembles the skin of a melon, it garners the Japanese name urikaede which means melon. This tree reaches a mature height and width of 15 to 20 feet.
The bark is attractive all year but provides excellent winter interest. Shoots are greenish-red and buds are purple-red. The upright vase shape provides sculptural interest in the landscape and requires very little pruning to keep branches up and out of garden beds.
Provide a location with well-drained soil and occasional watering during summer dry spells. Protect the bark from winter frost and full sun as it is prone to cracking. It is somewhat difficult to propagate and is therefore not very common.
Take advantage of the interesting bark and sculptural branches by using this tree in a winter garden. It is also at home in an Asian themed, pollinator or nighttime garden as it is the larval host plant for moths. The small size makes it ideal for a patio planting.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. See potential insect and disease 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:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- crataegifolium
- 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: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Vase
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a paired samara, pink or red maturing to brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Insignificant, pale yellow to green and formed on drooping racemes.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves turn gold in fall and all drop at once making clean up easy. Leaves ovate-triangular 3-5 inches long and 2-6 inches wide. They can be either unlobed or three-lobed. Blades are dark green to bluish green and often tinged reddish above, paler green below. Petioles are red 1–2 inches long.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Green
- Light Brown
- Bark Description:
- Green to greenish brown and white striped bark that resembles the skin of a melon, hence the Japanese name urikaede which means melon. The bark is attractive all year but provides excellent winter interest. Shoots are greenish red and buds are purple red. The upright vase shape is very attractive and requires very little pruning to keep branches up and out of garden beds. Protect the bark from winter frost and full sun as it is prone to cracking.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Shoots are greenish red and buds are purple red. The upright vase shape is very attractive and requires very little pruning to keep branches up and out of garden beds.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
