Acer nipponicum: Country Or Region Of Origin
Japan
Plant Profile: Acer nipponicum
Names
Nippon Maple
Phonetic Spelling:AY-ser nip-PON-ih-kum
Genus:Acer
Species:nipponicum
Family:Sapindaceae
The Nippon maple, a deciduous shade tree indigenous to Japan and belonging to the Sapindaceae family, features smooth gray-brown bark alongside vibrant green bark on its younger branches. Its leaves are characterized by deep veins and a unique rough texture. This tree can be somewhat elusive in nurseries, as it often has aborted or missing terminal buds, and its seeds frequently lack viability. To prevent leaf burn, it is essential to shield the tree from direct sunlight.
**Seasons of Interest:**
- **Foliage:** Fall
- **Bloom:** Spring
**Site Requirements:** Thrives in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil and prefers light to deep shade.
Acer nipponicum Feature Summary
Tags
#showy flowers
#deciduous
#fall color
#small tree
#wildlife plant
#moths
#shade tolerant
#tree
#maple
#yellow leaves
#fast growing
#gold leaves
#brown leaves
#nighttime garden
#larval host plant
#moth larvae
#partial shade tolerant
#pollinator garden
#imperial moth
Similar Plants
Acer nipponicum 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.
Woody
Fruit
Fruit wings up to 2 inches long, held at obtuse angles, nutlets globose. Seeds are often sterile.
Samara
1-3 inches
Flowers
Attractive long pendulous racemes appear with leaves in the spring.
Raceme
Spring
Leaves
The leaves are deeply veined and have an interesting rough texture. Leaves are 4 to 8 in., opposite, simple and light green with 3 to 5 oval shallow lobes that terminate in a point. The leaves are deeply cordate base, and margins are doubly serrate. Upper side of leaf is rough and almost embossed looking and has a rusty brown pubescence on underside. Yellow to golden brown color in the fall.
Deciduous
Green
Brown/Copper
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Simple
Opposite
Cordate
Lobed
Doubly Serrate
3-6 inches
Rough
Bark
It has smooth gray-brown bark and intensely green bark on younger stems.
Dark Gray
Light Gray
Dark Brown
Green
Light Brown
Smooth
Stem
Intensely green bark on younger stems. The terminal bud is often aborted or lacking.
Green
Smooth (glabrous)
Straight
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Deciduous
Rounded
Erect
Rapid
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Good Drainage
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Nighttime Garden
Asian Garden
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Pollinators
Moths
Acer nipponicum Image Gallery
Acer nipponicum Attributes
Acer nipponicum: 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 nipponicum: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Shade tolerant
Acer nipponicum: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Acer nipponicum: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Acer nipponicum Fruit
Acer nipponicum: Fruit Description
Fruit wings up to 2 inches long, held at obtuse angles, nutlets globose. Seeds are often sterile.
Acer nipponicum: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Acer nipponicum: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Acer nipponicum: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Acer nipponicum Flowers
Acer nipponicum: Flower Description
Attractive long pendulous racemes appear with leaves in the spring.
Acer nipponicum: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Acer nipponicum: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Acer nipponicum Leaves
Acer nipponicum: Leaf Description
The leaves are deeply veined and have an interesting rough texture. Leaves are 4 to 8 in., opposite, simple and light green with 3 to 5 oval shallow lobes that terminate in a point. The leaves are deeply cordate base, and margins are doubly serrate. Upper side of leaf is rough and almost embossed looking and has a rusty brown pubescence on underside. Yellow to golden brown color in the fall.
Acer nipponicum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Acer nipponicum: Leaf Color
Brown/Copper
Green
Acer nipponicum: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Acer nipponicum: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Acer nipponicum: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Acer nipponicum: 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 nipponicum: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Acer nipponicum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Acer nipponicum: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Acer nipponicum: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Acer nipponicum Bark
Acer nipponicum: Bark Description
It has smooth gray-brown bark and intensely green bark on younger stems.
Acer nipponicum: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Dark Gray
Green
Light Brown
Light Gray
Acer nipponicum: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Acer nipponicum Stem
Acer nipponicum: Stem Description
Intensely green bark on younger stems. The terminal bud is often aborted or lacking.
Acer nipponicum: Stem Color
Green
Acer nipponicum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Acer nipponicum: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Acer nipponicum: Stem Form
Straight
Zig Zags
Acer nipponicum Whole Plant Traits
Acer nipponicum: 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 nipponicum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Acer nipponicum: 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 nipponicum: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Acer nipponicum: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Acer nipponicum Cultural Conditions
Acer nipponicum: 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 nipponicum: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Acer nipponicum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Acer nipponicum: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Acer nipponicum Landscape
Acer nipponicum: 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 nipponicum: 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 nipponicum: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
