Japanese Maple

Acer Palmatum
Family Sapindaceae
[Podcast] [Podcast Script]

The Japanese Maple at DHS	Picture of Bark
The leaf of the Japanese Maple	The fruit of the Japanese Maple

Monocot or Dicot:

The Japanese Maple is a dicot.

Size:

Japanese Maples can range from a few feet to 25 feet tall.

Identifying Features:

Diverse variety of cultivars, in all colors and with various leaf shapes. The variety at DHS has green leaves with seven lobes.

Location/Habitat:

The Japanese Maple originated in Japan but grows well in temeperate areas around the world, especially in Europe and North America.

Flower/Fruit/Reproduction:

Flowers are monocecious (each flower is either male or female, but both appear on the same plant) and bloom from May to June. Flowers are produced in cymes, or small clusters. Fruits are samaras, which means that they have a seed attached to two thin, papery "wings" which help the seed to flow with the wind in a helicopter-like fashion. These can be red or purple.

Water/Sun Requirements:

Requires moist well-drained soil, and can grow in very acidic soils. Grows well in semi-shade. Can adapt to almost any soil except very alkaline, very wet, or very dry environments.

Special Adaptations:

The Japanese Maple is adapted to woodland areas below the canopy, so it can thrive in low-light environments.

Other Info:

• Sap from a Japanese Maple can be made into a drink or can be boiled into a syrup.
• Leaves can be used to pack around apples or root crops to help preserve them.
• Maples are prone to attacks by vine weevels, aphids, and scale insects
• The Japanese Maple has over 1000 cultivars

Reference Sources/Links:

Plants For a Future -- Acer Palmatum
Royal Horticultural Society
The Garden Helper
NC State University

Created by Dan S. 2007