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Acer crataegifolium
Hawthorn-leaved Maple
Japan (Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu); montane mixed forests at low to middle elevations
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Overview
Acer crataegifolium is a deciduous small tree or large shrub in the family Sapindaceae native to Japan, reaching 20-30 feet (6-9 m) tall with a spread of 15-20 feet (4.5-6 m) and forming a broadly oval crown. It is a snakebark maple: young stems are green with conspicuous white vertical striping that fades to grayish-brown on wood more than 2-3 years old. Leaves are three-lobed to unlobed, 1.5-3 inches (4-7.5 cm) long, dark green with serrated margins, smaller and more variable in shape than those of most maples; the shape resembles Crataegus (hawthorn) foliage and gives both the species epithet and the common name. Fall color is orange to red-purple and lasts 2-3 weeks. Small yellow-green flowers open in slender pendant racemes in April and May as the leaves emerge, followed by paired samaras 0.75-1 inch (2-2.5 cm) long that ripen in September and October. The species tolerates shade better than most maples. Summer temperatures sustained above 85°F (29°C) cause leaf margin scorch, which limits the species to cool-summer regions.
Native Range
Acer crataegifolium is native to Japan on the main islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, where it grows in montane mixed forests at low to middle elevations along forest margins and stream banks in moist, well-drained soils under partial shade.Suggested Uses
Planted as a specimen in woodland gardens, shaded borders, and smaller gardens at 15-20 foot (4.5-6 m) spacing. The green-and-white striped bark continues year-round interest after leaf drop. Combined with other shade-tolerant Japanese woodland species in mixed understory plantings in cool-summer regions. Not suited to hot-summer regions above zone 8, dry exposed sites, or alkaline soils above pH 7.0.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height20' - 30'
Width/Spread15' - 20'
Reaches mature size in approximately 18 years
Bloom Information
Small yellow-green flowers open in slender pendant racemes 1.5-3 inches (4-7.5 cm) long in April and May as the new leaves emerge. Individual flowers are not a primary display feature. Paired samaras 0.75-1 inch (2-2.5 cm) long ripen to tan-brown in September and October. Total bloom period averages 2 weeks.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow-green; borne in slender pendant racemes 1.5-3 inches (4-7.5 cm) long in April-MayFoliage Description
dark green, serrated; 1.5-3 inches (4-7.5 cm) long, three-lobed to unlobed and variable in shape; orange to red-purple in fallGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 3-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plant in moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil with a pH of 5.5-7.0 in part shade to full sun in cool-summer climates; tolerated soil types include loam and sand. Water weekly during the first two growing seasons. Established trees tolerate dry intervals of 7-10 days and show leaf scorch under sustained drought. Summer temperatures sustained above 85°F (29°C) cause leaf margin scorch, which limits the species to Pacific Northwest, upper Midwest, and northeastern conditions. No routine fertilization is required in humus-rich soils.Pruning
Pruning is done in late spring to early summer (May-June) after leaf-out to limit sap bleeding from winter cuts. Dead or crossing branches are removed at that time, and basal suckers are cut at their point of origin. The naturally oval crown requires minimal shaping. Late-summer and fall pruning is avoided because wounds close slowly at those times.Pruning Schedule
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late spring