Acer shirasawanum: Country Or Region Of Origin
Japan
Plant Profile: Acer shirasawanum
Names
Full Moon Maple
Phonetic Spelling:AY-ser shir-ah-sa-WAN-um
Genus:Acer
Species:shirasawanum
Family:Sapindaceae
The Full Moon Maple is a compact deciduous tree or sizable shrub indigenous to Japan, valued for its stunning leaves and vibrant autumn hues. This slow-growing plant can ultimately attain heights of 15 to 20 feet. Its modest size makes it an excellent choice for patios or as a container plant.
To cultivate it successfully, ensure it is planted in moderately moist, well-drained soil and provide afternoon shade to protect its leaves from scorching and strong winds. It can be utilized as a focal point, in an Asian-themed garden, or as an understory tree.
Acer shirasawanum Feature Summary
Acer shirasawanum Image Gallery
Tags
#deciduous
#fall color
#small tree
#wildlife plant
#slow growing
#moths
#deciduous shrub
#understory tree
#nighttime garden
#larval host plant
#deciduous tree
#patio
#moth larvae
#partial shade tolerant
#pollinator garden
#imperial moth
#container plants
Similar Plants
Acer shirasawanum is often confused with:
Acer shirasawanum 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
The fruit is a paired samara, red aging to brown held in erect clusters above the leaves.
Samara
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
Flowers
Leaves
2-3 inch leaves with 9-13 lobes with serrated margins, acuminate tip. Fall color is yellow, orange or red.
Deciduous
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Opposite
Palmasect
Orbicular
Serrate
1-3 inches
1-3 inches
Bark
Smooth gray bark
Light Gray
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Deciduous
Rounded
Erect
Slow
Low
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Stem
Cluster of terminal buds
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Nighttime Garden
Asian Garden
Small Tree
Understory Tree
Container
Patio
Lawn
Pollinators
Moths
Acer shirasawanum Image Gallery
Acer shirasawanum Attributes
Acer shirasawanum: 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 shirasawanum: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Acer shirasawanum Fruit
Acer shirasawanum: Fruit Description
The fruit is a paired samara, red aging to brown held in erect clusters above the leaves.
Acer shirasawanum: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Acer shirasawanum: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Acer shirasawanum Flowers
Acer shirasawanum: Flower Description
Reddish flowers in clusters
Acer shirasawanum: Flower Color
Red/Burgundy
Acer shirasawanum: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Acer shirasawanum Leaves
Acer shirasawanum: Leaf Description
2-3 inch leaves with 9-13 lobes with serrated margins, acuminate tip. Fall color is yellow, orange or red.
Acer shirasawanum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Acer shirasawanum: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Acer shirasawanum: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Acer shirasawanum: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Acer shirasawanum: 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 shirasawanum: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Acer shirasawanum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Acer shirasawanum: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Acer shirasawanum: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Acer shirasawanum Bark
Acer shirasawanum: Bark Description
Smooth gray bark
Acer shirasawanum: Bark Color
Light Gray
Acer shirasawanum Whole Plant Traits
Acer shirasawanum: 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 shirasawanum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Acer shirasawanum: 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 shirasawanum: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Acer shirasawanum: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Acer shirasawanum Cultural Conditions
Acer shirasawanum: 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 shirasawanum: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Acer shirasawanum: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Acer shirasawanum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
Acer shirasawanum: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Acer shirasawanum Stem
Acer shirasawanum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Acer shirasawanum: Stem Bud Terminal
Cluster of terminal buds
Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
Only 1 terminal bud, smaller than side buds
Acer shirasawanum Landscape
Acer shirasawanum: 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 shirasawanum: 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 shirasawanum: 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 shirasawanum: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
