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 before the leaves. 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.
Site: Sun; range of soil types
Form: broad/ rounded
Native to Japan
- 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:
- 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
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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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.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 4 to 7 in., opposite, and simple with 5 lobes; 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
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
