Shirasawa Maple Acer shirasawanum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser shir-ah-sa-WAN-um
- Description
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Full moon or Shirasawa maple is a small deciduous tree or large shrub in the maple family (Sapindaceae) native to Japan. It is named after Japanese botanist Homi Shirasawa.
It is slow-growing and eventually may reach 15 -20 feet tall. Plant in average moist well-drained soil and provide afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch from strong winds and too much sun.
The showy leaves are rounded with 9-13 shallow lobes that turn bright yellow, orange or red in the fall.
Its small stature makes it a good patio tree or container plant. Use as a specimen, in an Asian garden, or as an understory tree. The cultivar ‘Aureum’ is much easier to find for sale and has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
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:
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- ‘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:
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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
