The Acer shirasawanum is a Japanese maple originating in the mountains of Honshu and Shikoku pertaining to the section Palmata of the Classification of the maples.

It is often confused with Acer japonicum (to which it is related) and very similar to Acer circinatum, Acer sieboldianum and Acer pseudosieboldianum, but it is the only one to have drawn up flowers and fruits.

English calls it " Full moon maple " (maple of full moon) because of the luminous aspect and the round shape of its sheets.

Description

It can reach 15 m in height in a natural state. It presents a port largely spread out to multiple trunks and a bark smooth, gray-brown.

Its Feuille S from 7 to 13 lobes is circular and can 15 cm length measure to 10 cm broad. They are of a luminous tender green in spring then change color according to the varieties. They require a clear exposure to take beautiful colors in autumn but can be damaged by a too strong exposure to the full sun.

Their Pétiole red length 7 cm makes it possible to distinguish Acer shirasawanum from the Acer japonicum which resembles to him but whose petiole is shorter.

Acer shirasawanum produces small Fleur S yellow-green in drawn up bunches in April - May then samares which pass from the green to the carmine red to maturity.

In spite of its very slow growth, its large sheets and its multiple trunks do not make of it a species adapted particularly well to the treatment in Bonsaï.

Principal Cultivar S

There is a " variety; tenuifolium" with more lengthened lobes and several Cultivar S:

• Aureum : with its sheets green apple in spring and yellow-red in autumn not exceeding 10 cm, the " Golden delicious full moon maple" (synonym of Acer japonicum var.aureum) is the cultivar which supports best the full sun. There is a specimen of 8 m planted in 1850 with Boskoop in Holland in the house of D.M. Van Gelderen (Esveld seedbed).

• Autumn Moon : coming from a aureum, this variety transfers more towards the pink and orange and is adapted to the hot areas.

• Ezo No O momiji : A little rough sheets dark green transfering with the red gilded in autumn. Difficult to propagate.

• Microphyllum or " Ezo meigetsu kaede " who means " maple with small sheets rondes" in Japanese: : sheets from 6 to 8 cm.

• Junihitoe : Cultivar (near to Microphyllum) having the smallest sheets (4 to 7 cm). Color orange in autumn. Very slow growth.

• Red Dawn : large red sheets in autumn

• Ogurayama : pubescent sheets oranges with red shining in autumn.

Culture

Of slow growth, he appreciates the acid grounds in wetland and shaded. He supports very rustic climates (until in Zone USDA 5).

He is multiplied by Clerc's Office on compatible species with faster growth (Acer palmatum or Acer japonicum). One can also propagate it by Semis but the seeds are often Hybride S.

External bond

• Acer shirasawanum on the site of Jean-Louis Hélardot

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