Acer palmatum
Common Name: Japanese Maple
Family: Aceraceae

DECIDUOUS

West Simsbury, CT

Plant is Native to: Japan, China, Korea. Hardy to Zone 5 or for some, Zone 6.
Plant Height at maturity: 15 to 25 feet tall and spread.
Plant Habit and Form: Small, deciduous tree with rounded to irregular form. Branches often have a layered effect, similar to Flowering dogwood. Form varies with the cultivar. Can be single or multi-stem. Slow growth rate. Fine to medium texture.
Foliage: Opposite, 2" to 5" long. Has 5, 7 or 9 deeply lobed palmate leaves. Color varies with cultivar, generally dark-green on species. Autumn foliage may be yellow, orange, red or purple. Color develops late and leaves hold well into fall.

West Simsbury, CT

Bark: Twigs have green and red shiny bark; showy. Gray bark on trunk and main branches. Good ornamental feature, but not known for this due to popularity of showy leaves.

West Simsbury, CT

Flower: Small, red or purple in May and June.

West Simsbury, CT

Fruit/Seed: Samara, ½ to 3/4" long, wings 1/4 to 3/8" wide. Curved inwards, forming a broad arch. Wings turn red or green, and ripen in September - October.
Growing Requirements: Transplants easily in late spring into moist, well-drained soil with high organic matter. Protect from winds and late spring frosts, since young foliage is sensitive to cold. Prefers full sun to partial shade (in nature, is an understory tree). Avoid hot, dry locations, and wind-swept sites.
Problems and Drawbacks: Few diseases and insects cause problems. Cold sensitive, so twig kill, bark split and lack of winter hardiness can cause problems. Spring frosts can damage new growth.
Special Uses: Good specimen plant, accent plant, shrub border, grouping or bonsai.
ID Tips/Remarks: 5 to 9 palmately lobed leaves. Twig bark is red or green, most are glabrous (not hairy). Base of bud is surrounded by a papery, hairy sheath (like a hula skirt). No terminal bud.
Bibliography:
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/Plants/a/acepal/acepal1.html
Dirr, Michael A. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, 1998 Stipes Publishing, Champaigne, IL