• Photo of Acer cissifolium (Acer cissifoliums)

Plant Profile: Acer cissifolium

Taxonomy: Acer cissifolium

Names

Ivy-Leafed Maple, Ivyleaf Maple, Ivy-Leaved Maple, Vine-Leafed Maple, Vineleaf Maple, Vine-Leaved Maple

  • Photo of Acer cissifolium (Acer cissifoliums)

Phonetic Spelling:AY-ser siss-ih-FOH-lee-um

Genus:Acer

Species:cissifolium

Family:Sapindaceae

Acer cissifolium, often referred to as the ivy-leaved maple, is indigenous to the mountainous regions of Japan. This small, deciduous tree generally reaches heights of 20 to 30 feet. In its early stages, it exhibits an upright, oval shape, but as it matures, it can develop a distinctive, mushroom-like appearance with a wide, rounded canopy. The tree features gray bark and is sensitive to high summer temperatures.

**Preferred Conditions:** Thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires moist, well-drained soil.

**Growth Habit:** Initially upright and oval, it gradually becomes broad and spreading as it ages.

Acer cissifolium Feature Summary

Acer cissifolium Image Gallery

Tags

#red
#deciduous
#fall color
#yellow
#full sun tolerant
#wildlife plant
#moths
#tree
#maple
#samaras
#red leaves
#yellow leaves
#fall interest
#nighttime garden
#larval host plant
#moth larvae
#partial shade tolerant
#pollinator garden
#imperial moth

Similar Plants

Acer cissifolium Feature Summary

Attributes
Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.
Flowers
Small fragrant yellow flowers bloom in pendant racemes (to 4” long) in spring.
Gold/Yellow
Leaves
Leaves are 1.5 to 3 in., opposite, and trifoliate. They are olive green in summer and have a modest yellow, red fall color. 1 1/2" -3" long leaflet, obovate or ovate to elliptic, long acuminate, cuneate, medium green above, glabrous, whitish tufts in axils of veins below, Zelkova-like serrations.
Green
Gold/Yellow
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Elliptical
Ovate
Obovate
1-3 inches
Bark
Smooth gray bark
Dark Gray
Light Gray
Stem
Slender, pubescent, reddish purple in first year turning to a gray brown in the second year. Buds are terminal: reddish-purple 3/16" long, valvate, pubescent, lower part of bud glabrous. laterals: similar, 1/2 as long, appressed.
Brown/Copper
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Gray/Silver
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Nighttime Garden
Asian Garden
Hedge
Shade Tree
Street Tree
Patio
Walkways
Lawn
Pollinators
Moths

Acer cissifolium Attributes

Acer cissifolium: Country Or Region Of Origin

Japan

Acer cissifolium: Wildlife Value

Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.

Acer cissifolium: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Acer cissifolium: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Acer cissifolium Flowers

Acer cissifolium: Flower Description

Small fragrant yellow flowers bloom in pendant racemes (to 4” long) in spring.

Acer cissifolium: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Acer cissifolium: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Acer cissifolium: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Acer cissifolium: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Acer cissifolium Leaves

Acer cissifolium: Leaf Description

Leaves are 1.5 to 3 in., opposite, and trifoliate. They are olive green in summer and have a modest yellow, red fall color. 1 1/2" -3" long leaflet, obovate or ovate to elliptic, long acuminate, cuneate, medium green above, glabrous, whitish tufts in axils of veins below, Zelkova-like serrations.

Acer cissifolium: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Acer cissifolium: Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green

Acer cissifolium: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Red/Burgundy

Acer cissifolium: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Acer cissifolium: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Acer cissifolium: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Acer cissifolium: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Acer cissifolium Bark

Acer cissifolium: Bark Description

Smooth gray bark

Acer cissifolium: Bark Color

grass
Dark Gray
grass
Light Gray

Acer cissifolium: Surface/Attachment

Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy

Acer cissifolium Stem

Acer cissifolium: Stem Description

Slender, pubescent, reddish purple in first year turning to a gray brown in the second year. Buds are terminal: reddish-purple 3/16" long, valvate, pubescent, lower part of bud glabrous. laterals: similar, 1/2 as long, appressed.

Acer cissifolium: Stem Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Gray/Silver
grass
Purple/Lavender
grass
Red/Burgundy

Acer cissifolium: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Acer cissifolium: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Acer cissifolium: Stem Buds

Hairy
Hairy tips
Scaly
Smooth/Hairless

Acer cissifolium Whole Plant Traits

Acer cissifolium: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Acer cissifolium: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Acer cissifolium: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Acer cissifolium: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Acer cissifolium: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Acer cissifolium Cultural Conditions

Acer cissifolium: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Acer cissifolium: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Acer cissifolium: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Acer cissifolium: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Acer cissifolium Fruit

Acer cissifolium: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Acer cissifolium: Fruit Color

grass
Green

Acer cissifolium: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Acer cissifolium Landscape

Acer cissifolium: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Acer cissifolium: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Acer cissifolium: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Acer cissifolium: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees