Acer japonicum “O-isami”

Fullmoon Maple
Acer japonicum “O-isami”
Type: Small Deciduous Tree
Exposure: Sun / Part Shade
Water: Regular

Common sense would suggest that Acer Japonicum would be known as “Japanese Maple” (“japonicum” means “Japanese” after all). But no, just to mess with everybody, Japanese Maple is actually Acer Palmatum, while A. Japonicum is known more commonly as “Fullmoon Maple.”  This refers to the round shape of the leaves, which resemble full moons. (?)

Uh, anyway, these leaves are deeply cut, toothed and somewhat fernlike in appearance, and at 3-5in (7.5-12.5cm) across, sort of halfway between a Japanese and a Red maple (more on these later). They begin their autumn transformation in September. At first, greens are still present along with fall colors, before giving way to a fiery display of brilliant reds and yellows that will seem to light up your whole yard.

The tree itself is often multi-stemmed, and has a somewhat spreading habit; it can eventually grow as wide as it is high, sometimes to 30ft (9m), but don’t expect more than about 10ft (3m) tall by half as wide at the 10 year mark. The flowers are a purplish-red (see 4th photo above), and appear in spring before the leaves open. These are followed by small samaras which ripen throughout the spring and summer before falling in late summer / early fall. Samaras are the little helicopters that are characteristic of maple trees. They contain the seed of the tree; the “helicopter” helps distribute the seed away from the parent tree. I read that they’re called  “spinning Jennies” in the UK. Have any of you from England /Ireland/ Scotland ever heard that?

Photo credit: Flower photo courtesy of www.hortus5.com.

Cheers,

John