Acer japonicum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser juh-PON-ih-kum
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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Fullmoon maple is a slow growing deciduous tree in the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family native to mountainous areas of Japan, Manchuria, and Korea. It has rounded leaves which look much like a full moon, hence the common name. This upright to spreading, small tree or large shrub has smooth, gray bark, often appearing in a multitrunked form and grows up to 15-30’ tall.
The leaves turn yellow and red in fall. Small purplish-red flowers in pendulous corymbs appear in early spring (April) before the leaves.
Plants prefer cool summer conditions with lightly dappled shade though they will tolerate full sun Moist well drained soil is preferred but it is adaptable to many soil types. Site in locations protected from strong winds. Stake young trees for more erect growth. Plants perform poorly south of USDA Zone 7. Leaves may scorch in full sun in hot southern summers.
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.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Lawn and Upper Drive Border Shaded Slope
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Aconitifolium'
- 'Green Cascade'
- 'Nicholsonii'
- 'Oregon Fern'
- 'Vitifolium'
Grape-like leaves with shallow lobes; fall colors of purple, orange and red
Fern-like leaves - 'Green Cascade'
- 'Aconitifolium', 'Green Cascade', 'Nicholsonii', 'Oregon Fern', 'Vitifolium'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Aconitifolium'
- 'Green Cascade'
- 'Nicholsonii'
- 'Oregon Fern'
- 'Vitifolium'
Grape-like leaves with shallow lobes; fall colors of purple, orange and red
Fern-like leaves - 'Green Cascade'
- 'Aconitifolium', 'Green Cascade', 'Nicholsonii', 'Oregon Fern', 'Vitifolium'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- japonicum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mountainous areas of Japan, Manchuria, and Korea
- 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. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-trunked
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- 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:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Width:
- 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
- Bark Description:
- The bark is smooth on young trees, becoming rough and scaly on older trees.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Multi-branching and stiff twigs. First year, slender, glabrous, reddish green. Second year, marked color change becoming brown with a sharp demarcation between current and last season's growth.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
