Top 10 Most Beautiful Acer Shirasawanum Varieties
Acer shirasawanum, often celebrated among enthusiasts for its vivid colors and unique leaf patterns, brings a touch of elegance to any garden or landscape. These Japanese maples stand out for their adaptability to various climates, which makes them a favorite among gardeners who appreciate beauty in every season.
Whether in spring, summer, or autumn, each variety offers its own stunning display of colors and shapes, making them an excellent choice for garden design. With a range of options to explore, the varieties of Acer shirasawanum invite both novice and experienced gardeners to discover their exceptional beauty.
Moonrise
The Acer shirasawanum ‘Moonrise’ captivates with its vivid seasonal colors. In spring, the leaves emerge red, transforming to a lush lime-green during summer. As autumn approaches, they shift to warm hues of orange and red.
This compact, upright cultivar thrives with minimal leaf burn, thanks to its disease resistance. Its form makes it an excellent choice for adding a touch of grandeur to gardens. Enduring harsh conditions, it’s both hardy and vigorous.
‘Moonrise’ is a standout in the Japanese maple family, with colors that command attention throughout the year. Its graceful presence elevates any landscape, creating a breathtaking display in every season.
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Leaf Color (Summer) | Lime-green |
| Leaf Color (Fall) | Orange and Red |
| Hardiness Zone | 5-9 |
| Form | Compact, Upright |
| Height | 15-20 feet |
| Disease Resistance | High |
Autumn Moon
The Autumn Moon Japanese maple is a captivating variety with a palette of warm colors. In spring, the leaves boast a vibrant yellow-orange shade, which transitions to deep orange-red in fall. This makes it a stunning choice for gardens looking to embrace the seasonal changes.
Adapted to grow in full sun or part shade, this maple adds versatility to landscaping plans. It thrives in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils, making it suited for various environments.
The plant can grow as a bushy tree or a large shrub, offering a versatile form for landscapes. Its unique fan-shaped leaves, typical of the Full Moon Maple species, draw attention and admiration from garden enthusiasts.
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Leaf Color | Yellow-orange in spring/fall |
| Hardiness Zone | 5 to 7 |
| Plant Form | Bushy tree or large shrub |
| Height | 15-20 feet |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun to part shade |
For more information, consider visiting Acer shirasawanum Autumn Moon Maple.
Aureum
Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ captures attention with its bright yellow leaves in spring. This Japanese Maple stands out due to its vibrant hue that changes as the seasons progress. The leaves mature to a pale chartreuse, offering a fresh and lively appearance in any garden setting.
In the fall, ‘Aureum’ offers a stunning display of orange tones. It’s a great choice for those looking to add year-round color to their landscape. This tree thrives in partial shade and is best protected from harsh afternoon sun to preserve its beautiful foliage.
Below is a table outlining some of the key characteristics of Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’:
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Leaf Color – Summer | Bright chartreuse |
| Leaf Color – Fall | Stunning orange |
| Hardiness Zone | 5-9 |
| Form | Bushy, medium-sized shrub or tree |
| Height | Up to 10 feet |
For more information on this variety, you can explore its features at the Gardenia article or the Iseli Nursery page.
Jordan
The Acer shirasawanum ‘Jordan’ is a standout variety of Japanese maple. It features leaves that start as bright yellow and shift to gold through the summer, with lovely rose-orange edges in spring. This vibrant color adds a unique touch to any garden.
This tree grows upright and can reach about 10 feet in height. Its excellent sun tolerance means it thrives in both full sun and light shade. ‘Jordan’ maintains its colors well into the summer, adding interest across seasons.
In autumn, the leaves transform, showcasing an impressive yellow to orange hue. This variety is hardy to USDA zone 5, making it suitable for various climates.
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Leaf Color Summer | Bright yellow to gold |
| Leaf Color Fall | Yellow to orange |
| Hardiness Zone | 5 |
| Form | Upright |
| Height | Up to 10 feet |
Sensu
The Sensu variety of Acer shirasawanum is a captivating choice for any garden. Its deeply divided leaves begin with orange to bronze tones and gradually turn green by late spring. This transition is a delightful spectacle, making it a popular option.
In autumn, Sensu showcases a spectacular display of orange and red shades. The tree’s name translates to “moving fan,” reflecting the gentle movement of its distinctive, fan-like leaves.
Sensu thrives best in locations with sun and partial shade. It typically grows to about 8-10 feet in height over ten years, which makes it manageable for many garden sizes.
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Summer Leaf Color | Green |
| Fall Leaf Color | Orange to Red |
| Hardiness Zone | Zones 5-9 |
| Form | Upright |
| Height | 8-10 feet in 10 years |
Kawaii
Acer shirasawanum ‘Kawaii’ stands out with its unique foliage and compact size. This Japanese maple features deeply divided leaves that emerge in a pink-red hue during spring. As summer progresses, the leaves transition to a vibrant orange and plum-red, creating a stunning visual display.
This dwarf maple has a semi-weeping form that appeals to garden enthusiasts. It reaches a height of 2 to 4 feet, making it suitable for small spaces or container planting.
Gardeners often choose this variety for its versatility. The tree can thrive in various light conditions, ranging from full sun to partial shade. It attracts beneficial insects and birds to the garden.
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Summer/Fall Leaf Color | Orange, plum-red, and brilliant red |
| Hardiness Zone | Zone 5 |
| Form | Semi-weeping, compact |
| Height | 2 to 4 feet |
| Light Requirements | Sun to partial shade |
For more details, you can check out this Full Moon Japanese Maple.
Palmatifolium
Palmatifolium, a captivating variety of Acer shirasawanum, thrives in diverse climates and showcases stunning seasonal transformations. During summer, the tree displays large, green leaves that are deeply cut, enhancing its visual appeal. As autumn arrives, these leaves transition into vibrant shades of orange, yellow, and crimson red, offering a spectacular display.
This tree is robust and grows into a sturdy, upright form with a rounded canopy. With age, it reaches a mature height of about 20 feet, making it a prominent feature in gardens. Palmatifolium is heat-tolerant and does well in sun exposure, except in the hottest climates. Its adaptability extends across hardiness zones 5 through 9, allowing for widespread cultivation in various regions.
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Leaf Color (Summer) | Green |
| Leaf Color (Fall) | Orange, Yellow, Crimson Red |
| Hardiness Zone | 5-9 |
| Form | Upright, Rounded Canopy |
| Height | Up to 20 feet |
Yasemin
Yasemin is a Japanese maple variety admired for its unique and vibrant foliage. In the spring, its leaves emerge cherry red, transforming to a bronze-green shade by summer. As autumn arrives, the leaves display a brilliant purple-red color, adding a burst of color to gardens.
This variety is upright in form, making it an excellent choice for adding vertical interest to a landscape. Yasemin grows fairly quickly, reaching about 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide over a decade. It thrives in hardiness zones ranging from 5 to 9, making it adaptable to various climates.
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Leaf Color in Summer | Bronze-green |
| Leaf Color in Fall | Brilliant purple-red |
| Hardiness Zone | 5-9 |
| Form | Upright |
| Height | Up to 10 feet in 10 years |
Shiraz
Shiraz is a Japanese maple variety celebrated for its eye-catching blend of leaf colors. In spring, the foliage showcases a vibrant pink-purple with light pink accents. As the seasons change, these leaves mature to a mix of greens and creamy-white with a rosy blush.
This tree adds a standout feature to gardens with its distinctive upright form. It fits well in smaller spaces, such as near patios and entryways. Shiraz’s foliage turns a vivid scarlet in the fall, providing a seasonal highlight.
Best grown in U.S. hardiness zones 5 to 8, Shiraz thrives in climates with cool, temperate weather. It reaches a height of about 15 feet, making it suitable for use as an accent tree in a range of landscapes.
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Leaf Color Summer | Green and creamy-white with pink blush |
| Leaf Color Fall | Vivid scarlet |
| Hardiness Zone | 5-8 |
| Form | Upright |
| Height | Up to 15 feet |
Moonlight
The Acer shirasawanum ‘Moonlight’ captivates with its unique leaf color transformation throughout the seasons. In spring, its leaves emerge with a delicate pink hue that transitions into a lively chartreuse during summer. By fall, these leaves take on shades of vibrant orange and red, creating a vivid display.
This maple tree maintains a graceful, upright form, typically reaching a height of 8 to 10 feet. It is suitable for gardens in hardiness zones 5 through 9, making it a versatile choice for many regions. Despite its delicate appearance, the ‘Moonlight’ variety is both hardy and robust, with a strong resistance to common diseases and leaf burn.
Its compact size and dynamic color changes make it a standout feature in any landscape. This variety flourishes under sunlight or partial shade, adapting to various light conditions throughout the day.
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Leaf color in summer | Chartreuse |
| Leaf color in fall | Orange to Red |
| Hardiness zone | 5-9 |
| Form | Upright, Compact |
| Height | 8-10 feet |
Characteristics of Acer shirasawanum
Acer shirasawanum captivates with its unique leaves and vibrant color changes throughout the year. Known for enchanting foliage, these maples are a popular choice for gardens and landscaping projects.
Unique Leaf Features
The leaves of Acer shirasawanum are distinct and captivating. They are rounded with palmate structures that typically have 7 to 13 sharply pointed lobes. These lobes radiate symmetrically, forming a circular shape reminiscent of a full moon, which is why it’s sometimes called the “full moon maple.” The leaf size is usually modest, with lengths reaching up to four inches. This shape gives the tree a delicate appearance, making it a stunning focal point in any garden.
Color Variations Through Seasons
Yearly color transformations make Acer shirasawanum particularly appealing. In spring, the leaves emerge in vibrant yellow hues. As the season progresses, they transition to a lighter chartreuse, offering a fresh contrast to the surrounding greenery. In the fall, these trees truly shine, turning shades of gold, orange, and rich red. This seasonal color display adds dynamic visual interest to any landscape, capturing attention as the tree evolves visually throughout the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Acer shirasawanum varieties showcase stunning color changes across seasons, ranging from vivid reds to soft yellows. Their growth and care needs are distinct, making them a unique addition to any garden.
