Acer diabolicum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser di-ah-BALL-ee-cum
- Description
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The Devil Maple is native to central and southern Japan and is planted as an ornamental in that region. In the US, it makes a sturdy tree though not well known, usually 20 to 30 feet tall with a rounded habit. The fruit is its distinguishing feature. The samara is about 1 1/2 inches long with spreading wings and is thick and bristly. Yellow flowers appear on the female tree before the leaves. The male tree has more showy red blooms. It gets its scientific and common names from the two hornlike appearance of the protruding curly stigmas of its flowers, which are retained on its samara.
The name Devil or Horned Maple comes from the horn-like structures at the inner junction of the fruiting structure.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Aphids can be an issue for this tree. Verticillium Wilt and Fusarium Wilt may be contracted.
- 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:
- diabolicum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- 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. Flowers attract pollinators
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- 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 Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The seeds, like wings, are upright or spreading.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Dioecious, with first yellowish to salmon to brick red flowers appearing in early spring before the leaves fully unfurl. The female tree has yellow, while the male is red.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 4 to 7 in., opposite, and simple with 5 lobes. They are dark green on the top side and have a silky pubescence on the bottom, especially the veins. Non-showy fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Older bark is grayish brown, and nearly smooth or slightly furrowed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Young branches are whitish and pubescent, to brown or reddish brown in their second year and changing to a light grayish brown and glabrous.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
