General Culture:

Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers lightly dappled shade. Leaves may scorch in full sun in hot southern summers. Plants prefer cool summer conditions. Site in locations protected from strong winds. Stake trunk for more erect growth or leave alone for spreading effect.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Acer japonicum (see D353 herein) is commonly called full moon maple. It is a deciduous, spreading, small tree or large shrub that grows to 20-30’ tall. It often grows in a multi-trunked form. It is native to mountainous areas of Japan, Manchuria and Korea. It features rounded, palmate, almost fern-like, medium green leaves (to 3-6” across) which are deeply divided into 7-11 pointed, toothed and cut, ovate to lance-shaped lobes. Leaves turn yellow and red in fall. Each rounded leaf purportedly resembles a full moon, hence the common name. Small purplish red flowers in pendulous corymbs appear in early spring (April) before the leaves. Flowers are followed by winged samaras (to 1” long) which ripen in late summer to early fall. ‘Vitifolium’ typically grows over time to 10-15’ (less frequently to 20’) tall. It is noted for having large shallowly lobed leaves (to 6” across) with coarsely toothed margins. Leaves emerge with bronze tones, mature to green and develop excellent deep purple, orange and red fall colors. Cultivar name means grape leaf in reference to the similarity of cultivar leaves (folium) to those of some grapes (Vitis genus).