Acer palmatum

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

Acer decompositum
Acer formosum
Acer ornatum
Acer pinnatifidum

Phonetic Spelling

AY-ser pahl-MAY-tum

Description

The Japanese maple is a short tree in the Sapindaceae (maple) family, native to southeast Korea and central and south Japan, and noted for having many aesthetically pleasing forms. Weeping as well as upright varieties exist, and the species is well noted for its beautiful deep red and orange summer color that deepens into the fall.

Acer is Latin for sharp in and palmatum means shaped like a hand referring to the shape of the leaves.

Growth is slow to moderate, and the tree assumes a layered look with a low, dense, rounded top and spreading branches. The texture is medium to fine. Plant in dappled shade and evenly moist, well-drained soil, protecting it from drying winds.

Leaves are 2 to 5 inches, opposite, and simple with five to nine lobes. Most are deeply lobed. Color varies from green during summer to yellow, bronze, purple, and red in fall (color varies with cultivar). This is a prized specimen tree and one of the more versatile maple species for landscape use. Young leaves of this species are sensitive to frost and are not drought tolerant. Most cultivars are grafted and can be grown as a single or multi-stemmed small tree. They may suffer leaf scorch with excess sun, wind, or drought. This tree is mildly resistant to damage by deer.

Use it as a woodland understory tree or as an accent or specimen tree along a walkway in an Asian or children’s garden.

Quick ID Hints:

Serrated leaves with five to nine lobes
Leaves concolorous, green to red
Small deciduous tree to 25 feet
Slender green to red twigs; often glaucous bloom
Small, green buds hidden by petiole base; terminal bud often doubled

For weeping varieties, see Acer palmatum 'dissectum.'

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

Profile Video:

See this plant in the following landscapes:

Bonsai Garden Patio Room Rock & Water Garden Shade Garden Sitting Wall Flowers Galore Relaxed Foundation Planting Water Feature Water Koi Pond Rock and Crevice Garden Water Koi Pond Woodland Backyard Garden Walk Michael McCarthy Memorial Garden, All Saints Episcopal, Concord Water Garden Shaded Patio Garden Small shade garden Collector’s Garden Shaded Slope Asian Garden- Zen Garden

Cultivars / Varieties:

'Ben Komachii'
'Bloodgood'
grafted plant
'Burgundy Lace' - grafted plant
'Crimson Queen'
Garnet
Graceful small weeping tree with red deeply cut leaves
'Gwens Rose Delight'
'Higasayama' - grafted plant (pink leaf margins)
'Jordan'
'Kagiri Nishiki'

'Kiyohime'

Red-purple bordered leaves in Spring

'Koto no ito'
'Mikawa Yatsubusa'
'Mizuho Beni'
'Moonfire' - grafted plant
'Novum' - grafted plant
'Orange Dream'
'Orangeola'

'Osakazuki'

Excellent fall color

'Oto hime'
'Redleaf'

'Sango Kaku' - grafted plant (coral twigs)

Coral twigs

'Seiryu'

Red-tipped leaves in Spring

'Shaiana'
Sharp’s Pygmy
Slow growing dense form, truly dwarf maple. Tiny leaves.
'Trompenburg'
'Twombly Red Sentinel'

var. dissectum

Deeply cut, feathery leaves

'Waterfall'
'Yuri Hime'

'Ben Komachii', 'Bloodgood', 'Burgundy Lace' - grafted plant, 'Crimson Queen', Garnet, 'Gwens Rose Delight', 'Higasayama' - grafted plant (pink leaf margins), 'Jordan', 'Kagiri Nishiki', 'Kiyohime', 'Koto no ito', 'Mikawa Yatsubusa', 'Mizuho Beni', 'Moonfire' - grafted plant, 'Novum' - grafted plant, 'Orange Dream', 'Orangeola', 'Osakazuki', 'Oto hime', 'Redleaf', 'Sango Kaku' - grafted plant (coral twigs), 'Seiryu', 'Shaiana', Sharp’s Pygmy, 'Trompenburg', 'Twombly Red Sentinel', var. dissectum, 'Waterfall', 'Yuri Hime'

Tags:

#purple #red #deciduous #fall color #orange #shrub #wildlife plant #purple leaves #slow growing #moths #tree #maple #samaras #red leaves #bonsai #yellow leaves #tsc #understory tree #playground #dappled shade #cpp #bronze leaves #deer resistant #nighttime garden #children's garden #larval host plant #bird friendly #moth larvae #tsc-t #pollinator garden #woodlands #imperial moth #mccarthy memorial garden

Acer Palmatum samaras Bri Weldon CC BY 2.0

Acer palmatum 'Green Cascade' leaf Jim Lawrence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' Fall Color Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' Fall Color Leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Ariadne' leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Autumn Fire' form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Autumn Fire' leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Emerald Lace' form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Emerald Lace' leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Fireglow' leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Grandma Ghost' form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Grandma Ghost' leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Higisayama' leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Mikawa Yatsubusa' fall form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Mikawa Yatsubusa' Fall leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Mikawa Yatsubusa' new growth Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Moofire' fall form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Moofire' fall leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Murasaki Kiyohime' form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Murasaki Kiyohime' leaf Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Orangeola' fall form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Orangeola' fall leaf color Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Red Dragon' leaf Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Red Emperor' leaf Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Red Sentinel' form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Red Sentinel' leaf Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Rhode Island Red' leaf Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Sister Ghost' leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Spring Delight' leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Waterfall' leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

leaves, Wake County, NC Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0

Red fall leaves and red samaras (Cabarrus County, NC) Hope Duckworth CC BY 4.0