Botanical Name: Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium'
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Common Name: Fernleaf Fullmoon Maple  
Plant photo of: Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium'
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Tree, Shrub

 

Height Range

6-12'

 

Flower Color

Yellow

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

Brown, Grey

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full, Half, Shade

 

Water

Medium

 

Growth Rate

Slow

 

Soil Type

Clay, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

Formal, Japanese, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Fall Color, Silhouette, Specimen

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Entry, Shrub Border, Foundation, Patio, Raised Planter

 

Special Uses

Screen, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:

  • Description

  • Notes

This lovely maple has all the grace of a japanese maple but with an added toughness. It has an upright, mounded form, and rounded, deeply cut, dark green leaves that turn a rich ruby-red in the fall. Slow growing to 10 to 12 feet tall and slightly wider. Though tougher than the typical japanese maple, fullmoon maple performs best when sheltered a bit from the hottest and coldest our climate has to offer, and so plant it where it will receive a bit of shelter.
Grow in full sun to bright shade in any well-drained soil. Excessive moisture may cause crown rot or the bark to split. Prune selectively to shape and control size (see guides); shearing will cause lots of twiggy growth at the tips and eventually lead to a hard, dense branching (imagine a box with leaves) which in turn encourages pest and disease problems.