Acer shirasawanum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser shir-ah-sa-WAN-um
- Description
-
Full moon or Shirasawa maple is a small deciduous tree or large shrub in the maple family (Sapindaceae) native to Japan.
It is grown for its attractive foliage and good fall color. It is slow-growing and eventually may reach 15 -20 feet tall. Its small stature makes it a good patio tree or container plant.
Plant in average moist well-drained soil and provide afternoon shade to prevent leave scorch and from strong winds.
Use as a specimen, in an Asian garden, or as an understory tree.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. See potential disease and insect problem fact sheets to the left.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common Maple Diseases and Insects.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - West Lawn and Border
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Aureum’
Yellow leaves tinged with red. Orange red fall color. - 'Autumn Moon'
- ‘Aureum’
- ‘Aureum’, 'Autumn Moon'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Aureum’
Yellow leaves tinged with red. Orange red fall color. - 'Autumn Moon'
- ‘Aureum’
- ‘Aureum’, 'Autumn Moon'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- shirasawanum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan
- 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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- 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
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a paired samara, red aging to brown held in erect clusters above the leaves.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Description:
- Reddish flowers in clusters
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-3 inch leaves with 9-13 lobes with serrated margins, acuminate tip. Fall color is yellow, orange or red.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Smooth gray bark
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small Tree
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
