Painted Maple Acer pictum subsp. mono
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Acer mono
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser PIK-tum mon-oh
- Description
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Painted maple is a deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) that is native to forests in Japan, China, Korea, Mongolia, and Eastern Russia. Genus name is the Latin name for maple trees. The specific epithet means painted or brightly colored.
This tree will grow 30-50 feet tall with a similar spread and a rounded form. It can also be trained to grow in a shrub form. Plant in moist, well-drained acidic soils in partial shade to full sun. It is adaptable to other soils.
The lobed leaves have bronze tints in spring and turn green is summer. The fall color is bright gold with some red. Leaf stems exude a milky sap when cut. Insignificant flowers appear in spring and are followed by winged samaras.
Use this tree as a specimen, a small shade tree or as a bonsai specimen.
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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- ‘Usugumo’
Variegated green and white leaves
- ‘Usugumo’
- ‘Usugumo’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Usugumo’
Variegated green and white leaves
- ‘Usugumo’
- ‘Usugumo’
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- pictum subsp. mono
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Forests in Japan, China, Korea, Mongolia and Eastern Russia
- 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: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- 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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Greenish yellow flowers appear in April-May in upright clusters (umbels).
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3 to 6 in. opposite, simple leaves with 5 to 7 short triangular lobes; new leaves are bronze; bright green in summer and resistant to sunburn; bright gold with crimson fall color
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
