Full Moon Maple
Arbor Walk #135, TreeKeeper ID #6223
The Full Moon Maple is a small, dense tree with unique large, showy leaves that is native to Japan. These leaves create beautiful fall foliage and are mainly sought after for landscaping. The ‘Autumn Moon’ cultivar is named for its brilliant orange coloration in the fall. This tree is not particularly drought or heat-tolerant, but can do well in shade or sun so long as the location is not particularly hot.
| Common Name(s) | Full Moon Maple |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Acer shirasawanum |
| Indigenous Name(s) | |
| Cultivar/Variety | ‘Autumn Moon’ |
| Commercial Name |
Global Distribution
GPS Coordinates
N/A
Percent Concrete
N/A
Distance to Buildings
| Year | Close Building #1 | Close Building #2 | Close Building #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Distance to Other Species
| Year | Close Species #1 | Close Species # 2 | Close Species # 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard Measurements
| Year | Height (m) | DBH (cm) | Crown Diameter N-S (m) | Crown Diameter E-W (m) | Average Crown Diameter (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1.45 | 3.7 | 1.36 | 1.21 | 1.285 |
Nests and Pests
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2023 | N/A |
Leaf Identification
The leaves of the Full Moon Maple have an unique leaf shape. It is almost orbicular but with 7 to 9 shallow lobes. They are about 2″ to 3″ long and 2″ to 5″ wide, and the whole leaf and petiole is smooth (glabrous). It has serrated margins and palmate venation. The leaves are usually dark green. The fall colors range from different shades of orange, red, and purple. It has an opposite arrangement (petioles oppose each other on the stem).
Twig and Bud Identification
The twigs of the Full Moon Maple are glabrous and can be a green to red color. The buds are also glabrous and are usually green or red.
Bark Identification
The Full Moon Maple’s bark is smooth and light gray.
Fruit Identification
The fruit of the Full Moon Maple starts out as a bright red double samara (seed covered by papery “wing”, here in pairs) that matures to brown.
Flower Identification
The Full Moon Maple’s flowers are a crimson-red color and form upright clusters. The flowers bloom in mid-spring.
‘Autumn Moon’ Identification
The ‘Autumn Moon’ variety is known for its extra colorful leaves in summer and fall, and is slightly smaller than wild-type Full Moon Maples.
