Habitat

• native to Japan and part of China, but uncommon there
• zone 5, probably good in 4 as well

Habit and Form

• small, rounded or vase-shaped tree
• deciduous, 20' to 30' tall
• typically with a single, short main trunk
• relatively slow grower

Summer Foliage

• opposite, trifoliate, with 2" to 4" long leaflets
• leaflets are fuzzy underneath and relatively robust and thick when hardened-off

Autumn Foliage

• can turn reddish or burgundy, but the color is usually yellow with muted red overtones

Flowers

• yellow, not especially showy
• May

Fruit

• felt-covered samaras, 1" to 2" long

Bark

• smooth, nonexfoliating, ash gray and handsome

Culture

• best grown in slightly acid, moist, well-drained loamy soil
• full sun to partial shade

Landscape Uses

• shade or lawn tree for small yard
• specimen
• rare or uncommon plant

Liabilities

• relatively maintenance and problem free
• can be difficult to locate in commerce

ID Features

• large, sharp-pointed terminal bud
• buds often clustered at shoot tip
• bud scales densely pubescent except for brown band at the top of each scale
• pubescent, robust, trifoliate leaves

Propagation

• by seed, but like Acer griseum, the percent viable seed is low

Cultivars/Varieties

• none