Images of the Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum

Native to Asia, this maple is commonly grown in North America for its attractive leaf shape and bright colors. Palmately-lobed leaves (4-12 cm long and wide) turn vibrant shades of red in the fall. This small understory tree has a distinctive dome-like crown that provides light shade in gardens.

Habitat:Planted as an ornamental.

Growth Habit:Deciduous shrub or small tree, growing 4.6-6 m tall.

Bloom Time:Mid to late spring.

Presence in US:DC DE NY OH PA

Presence in Canada:ON

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This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation (NSF).