Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' (syn. A. japonicum) - Golden Full Moon Maple

Lime-green hand-like foliage emerges bright gold and glows throughout the summer on this dazzling small accent tree; vibrant fall colors of gold touched with red; this shapely tree deserves to be in every yard

Height: 20 feet. Spread: 20 feet. Sun: full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zone: 4b.

Ornamental features

Golden Full Moon Maple has attractive lime green deciduous foliage which emerges gold in spring on a tree with a round habit of growth. The lobed leaves are highly ornamental and turn outstanding shades of gold and red in the fall.

Landscape

Golden Full Moon Maple is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned in summer after the leaves have fully developed, as it may 'bleed' sap if pruned in late winter or early spring. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Recommended for: Accent, Shade, Mass Planting, Hedges/Screening.

Planting and growing

Golden Full Moon Maple will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. You may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.