Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
- Native to:
- Japan, Korea
Dominicus Johannes Bergsma
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- Acer palmatum
- USDA Symbol:
- ACPA2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 762 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, red
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Pyrobombus Dalla Hummingbirds: Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna), Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri), Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Moths:Bagworm moth (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), Rivula propinqualis, Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- red, orange, yellow, purple
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers sheltered locations with consistent humidity
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold-moist stratification. Germination improved by removing wings. Viability decreases rapidly with storage.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 4C for 3 months, then place @ 20C for 3 months.