Acer japonicum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser juh-PON-ih-kum
- Description
-
Acer japonicum, has rounded leaves look much like a full moon, hence the common name. It is a deciduous, spreading, small tree or large shrub with smooth, gray bark that grows up to 20-30’ tall. It often grows in a multi-trunked form. It is native to mountainous areas of Japan, Manchuria, and Korea. Leaves turn yellow and red in fall. Small purplish-red flowers in pendulous corymbs appear in early spring (April) before the leaves.
Site: Sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well-drained soil but is adaptable
Texture: Medium to fine
Form: Upright; multi-branching; sturdy, stiff twigs; rounded top
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Green Cascade'
- 'Nicholsonii'
- 'Vitifolium'
- 'Green Cascade'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Green Cascade'
- 'Nicholsonii'
- 'Vitifolium'
- 'Green Cascade'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- japonicum
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- mountainous areas of Japan, Manchuria, and Korea
- 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:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Fine
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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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Flowers are followed by winged 1" samaras which ripen in late summer to early fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Small purplish-red flowers in pendulous corymbs appear in early spring (April) before the leaves. White and maroon flowers on long stalks in April; colors maroon red in fall.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Rounded, palmate (looks fern-line) opposite, 3-6" medium green leaves with 7 to 11 acuminate, toothed and cut, ovate to lance-shaped lobes.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- multibranching and stiff twigs
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
-
Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium'
-
Crataegus nitida
-
Buddleja davidii 'Harlequin'
