Digging deeperPlant Library

Fullmoon Maple foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Description:

A shapely, neat and tidy small accent tree, the ideal size for the home landscape, interesting in all seasons with delicately-shaped foliage, blazing fall colors and colorful stems

Ornamental Features

Fullmoon Maple is primarily valued in the landscape for its ornamental globe-shaped form. It has rich green deciduous foliage. The lobed palmate leaves turn outstanding shades of yellow and red in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Fullmoon Maple is an open multi-stemmed deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Fullmoon Maple is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Fullmoon Maple will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 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 to a ripe old age of 100 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!

This tree does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America.

Colorado Sun Requirements

In Colorado, Japanese maples should only be planted in a location that receives morning sun. No mid-day or afternoon sun.