Shirasawa’s Japanese Maple
COMMON NAME | Shirasawa’s Japanese Maple |
BOTANICAL NAME * | Acer palmatum ‘Shirasawanum’ |
ZONE | 7-9 |
SIZE | Ht. 15-25’, though there are smaller cultivars available. Usually a multi-stem tree. A few cultivars are small enough to be considered a shrub. |
FOLIAGE | Emerges yellow green in the spring. Light green all season. Fall color – Excellent. Orange and red. Appears to be on fire. |
BARK | Smooth grey bark with an interesting branching structure. |
FRUIT | Winged seeds, in pairs. Can be showy for the brief time they turn pink/red. |
GROWING CONDITIONS | Full Sun to Part Shade. Fall color is stronger in Full Sun. Well drained soil with high organic matter. |
FAVORITE CULTIVARS | ‘Aureum’ – Golden Fullmoon Maple with chartreuse foliage; ‘Autumn Moon’ – small tree with a hint of pink along the margins of new foliage. Both of these cultivars still have the orange and red fall color. |
NOTES | Deer resistant, though do protect young trunks of less than 3” C from rutting deer. Excellent as specimen. |
* A particular plant will have only 1 botanical name. Unfortunately, a particular plant may have several common names or it may share a common name with another plant. Whenever possible, use the botanical name.