Acer crataegifolium
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser krah-tee-gi-FOH-lee-um
- Description
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Deciduous small tree or large shrub. 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. 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.
- 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
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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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:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
