Virginia Tech Dendrology

fullmoon maple Aceraceae Acer japonicum Thurb. symbol: ACJA2
Leaf: Opposite, simple, orbicular in outline with 7-11 deeply palmate lobes, 3 to 6 inches long, serrated margin, some cultivars so deeply lobed that leaf appears compound; light green above, pale pubescent below; orange to red fall color.
Flower: Species is monoecious; inconspicuous, small, red to purple, in terminal hanging clusters, appearing in early spring.
Fruit: Double samara, 1 inch long, divergent (90 degrees) wings, reddish brown, maturing in late summer.
Twig: Slender, slightly pubescent when young and becoming glabrous, red or green; buds broadly conical, green or red, base of bud hidden by tan, fuzzy fringe.
Bark: Smooth, light gray, becoming scaly.
Form: A small tree or large shrub, to 30 feet in height, round crown, typically multistemmed or branches low. Some cultivars have drooping branches.
Looks like: Japanese maple - vine maple

Additional Range Information: Acer japonicum is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and is not known to widely escape cultivaton. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material © 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information