Habitat

• native to Japan
• generally hardy to zone 5
• in its native location it grows as an understory tree

Habit and Form

• deciduous
• small tree, 20' to 30' tall
• upright and spreading branching
• rounded outline when young, becoming irregular with age
• growth rate is slow
• texture is medium

Summer Foliage

• opposite, 3" to 6" across, 7 to 11 lobes
• palmate shape similar to Acer palmatum
• soft green color, high quality

Autumn Foliage

• yellow and red; most plants are red
• typically very showy

Flowers

• small, purplish red in April

Fruit

• 1" long samaras

Bark

• similar to Acer palmatum
• twigs are green and red, shiny
• bark on trunk is gray and smooth
• an attractive characteristic of this plant

Culture

• full sun to partial shade is best; shade tolerant
• moist, slightly acidic, well-drained, high organic matter soil is ideal
• dislikes hot, dry locations
• avoid windswept, exposed winter locations

Landscape Uses

• specimen
• accent plant, especially cultivars
• at woods edge
• in mini-groves

Liabilities

• relatively pest and maintenance free
• twig kill, bark split and lack of winter hardiness can limit its use
• spring frosts can damage delicate emerging leaves

ID Features

• 7 to 11 palmately lobed leaves
• red and green current year twig color
• twigs glabrous with some fine, long hairs
• terminal bud absent
• bud bases surrounded by a hairy, papery sheath, giving the appearance of a hula skirt
• very similar bud and twig characteristics to Acer palmatum; hard to differentiate these species

Propagation

• by seed
• cultivars grafted on A. palmatum stock
• cultivars also by softwood cuttings

Cultivars/Varieties

'Aconitifolium'- Leaf lobes extend nearly to the petiole and are deeply and sharply-toothed. Excellent crimson red fall color.

'Aureum' - A very popular and choice form with yellow foliage that may fade some in summer. Very strinking when planted out of direct afternoon sun. Growth is slow and may not exceed 15'-20' tall. Also listed as A. shirasawanum 'Aureum'.