Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’

Golden full moon maple, Aureum golden full moon maple

Golden full moon maple is a popular cultivar. It prefers average moisture and sunlight, well drained soil, and locations that are somewhat sheltered from winds.

Plants: Trees, or sometimes multistemmed shrubs, are deciduous, and up to 20′ (6.1 m) high and 20′ (6.1 m) around. These have hairless shoots, unlike the similar Acer japonicum and A. sieboldianum. Also, this cultivar has red flowers, while A. sieboldianum has yellow flowers.

Leaves: Leaves are green in the spring, turning yellow, sometimes edged with red, during the summer. In the fall, they turn bright gold, orange, or even dark red. They are shaped like most maple leaves—roughly round in overall shape, but with 9-13 sharp-tipped lobes. Leaves are opposite, 1¾–3″ long ⨉ 2–4½″ wide (4.5–8 ⨉ 6–12 cm). Stems (petioles) are 1–2½″ (3–7 cm) long.

Flowers: Reddish purple flowers appear in April, in attractive corymbs or sprays of 10-20 flowers, each about ⅜″ (1 cm) in diameter.

Fruits: Red samaras are comprised of a pair of nutlets, each ⅛–⅜″ (5–10 mm) around, and wings, each ¾–⅞″ (2–2.5 cm) long.

Online References:

 

Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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