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Acer palmatum Thunb.

Japanese maple

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderSapindalesIncludes citrus; maples, horse-chestnuts, lychees and rambutans; mangos and cashews; frankincense and myrrh; mahogany and neem
FamilySapindaceaeSoapberry family
GenusAcerMaples
SpeciespalmatumHand-shaped or “palmate,” as with the fronds of a palm

About plant names...

Japanese maples are in fact Japanese in origin, occurring naturally in Korea and China as well. The low, mounded shape of the tree, along with its attractive color varieties and leaf varieties, have made it enormously popular throughout the world. Numerous cultivars are available.

Identification: These small trees do not exceed 25' (7.6 m) in height or width. Because they grow slowly, they often appear as rounded shrubs. Foliage may be purple or green. Leaves have 5-9 lobes, and are 1½-2½" (4-7 cm) around, with doubly serrated margins. Flowers are small, red or purple. Seeds are samaras ⅜-½" (1-1.5 cm) in size.

Acer palmatum (Japanese maple)

From left to right A. palmatum wild type, A. palmatum ‘Amoenum,’ and A. palmatum ‘Matsumurae’ (‘Dissectum’ is similar to ‘Matsumurae’). By Abrahami.

Online References:

Acer palmatum on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Acer palmatum on Wikipedia

Acer palmatum on plants.ces.ncsu.edu

Acer palmatum on plantdatabase.uconn.edu

Acer palmatum at the Ohio State University PLANTFacts database

Acer palmatum var. palmatum

Acer palmatum f. hessei Schwer.

Acer palmatum var. heptalobum Rehder

Acer palmatum f. versicolor (Van Houtte) Schwer.

Acer palmatum f. friederici-guillelmii (Carr) Schwer.

Acer palmatum f. elegans-purpureum G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. elegans G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. flavescens G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. laciniatum Schwer.

Acer palmatum var. linearilobum Miq.

Acer palmatum f. linearilobum (Miq.) G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. latifolium-atropurpureum G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum var. linearilobum Miq.

Acer palmatum f. lineare Schwer.

Acer palmatum var. latilobatum Koidz.

Acer palmatum f. latilobum (Koidz.) Ohwi

Acer palmatum f. latilobatum (Koidz.) Ohwi

Acer palmatum var. dissectum (Thunb.) Miq.

Acer palmatum f. argenteomarginatum Pax

Acer palmatum subsp. amoenum (Carrière) H.Hara

Acer palmatum f. cuneatum Schwer.

Acer palmatum var. amoenum (Carrière) Ohwi

Acer palmatum f. albomarginatum G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. albovariegatum Pax

Acer palmatum f. atrolineare Schwer.

Acer palmatum f. crispum (André) G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum var. crispum André

Acer palmatum f. atropurpureum (Van Houtte) G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum var. coreanum Nakai

Acer palmatum f. caudatum Schwer.

Acer palmatum f. aureum G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. brevilobum Schwer.

Acer palmatum f. bicolor G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. linearilobum-atropurpureum G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. sanguineum G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. rufinerve Schwer.

Acer palmatum f. lobatum G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. rubrum Schwer.

Acer palmatum f. rubellum Pax

Acer palmatum f. roseomarginatum (Van Houtte) G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. rubrolatifolium Schwer.

Acer palmatum f. scolopendrifolium Schwer. & Hesse

Acer palmatum f. variegatum G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. van-houttei Schwer.

Acer palmatum f. sessilifolium (Siebold & Zucc.) G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. tricolor G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum var. subtrilobum K.Koch

Acer palmatum var. sessilifolium (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim.

Acer palmatum var. spontaneum Koidz.

Acer palmatum f. sinuatum Schwer.

Acer palmatum f. rhodophyllum Pax

Acer palmatum var. ornatum (Carrière) André

Acer palmatum f. nicholsonii Schwer.

Acer palmatum f. rhodoneurum Pax

Acer palmatum var. multifidum K.Koch

Acer palmatum f. minor G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. luteoflorum A.E.Murray

Acer palmatum subsp. matsumurae Koidz.

Acer palmatum var. matsumurae (Koidz.) Makino

Acer palmatum f. ornatum (Carrière) G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum f. reticulatum (André) G.Nicholson

Acer palmatum var. pubescens H.L.Li

Acer palmatum var. palmatilobum Koidz.

Acer palmatum subsp. pubescens (H.L.Li) A.E.Murray

Acer palmatum var. pubescens H.L.Li

Acer palmatum var. palmatipartitum Koidz.

Acer palmatum f. polychromum Pax

Acer palmatum f. volubile Schwer.

Acer palmatum var. linearilobum Siebold & Zucc.

Acer palmatum var. pubescens Li

 

Acer palmatum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Nov 2020.

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Acer palmatum (Japanese maple)

7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s

Acer palmatum (Japanese maple)

7/23/2005 · MacDonalds, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts ID is uncertain

Acer palmatum (Japanese maple)

8/12/2007 · Ellen’s Landscaping, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain

Acer palmatum (Japanese maple)

7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s

Acer palmatum (Japanese maple)

8/19/2004 · Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts

Acer palmatum (Japanese maple)

7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s

Acer palmatum (Japanese maple)

6/26/2005 · Falmouth, Maine ID is uncertain

Acer palmatum (Japanese maple)

5/11/2021 · Harpswell Historic Park, Harpswell Garden Club, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 7 × 4" (16 × 11 cm)

Range: Zones 5-8:

About this map...