Miyabe Maple
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Growth habit is upright-oval to rounded, growing as a small to medium-sized tree, to 30-40' in height in the landscape (to 80' in the wild), and having an open to densely branched habit. Habit is quite graceful and picturesque at maturity. Medium to fast growth rate under ideal conditions.

Native Range

Native to Japan. Introduced in 1892.

Flower and Fruit Details

Greenish-yellow flowers in early spring, as the leaves expand. Flowers are in clusters, hanging from a 2-3" stem. The fruit is a double-winged, hairy samara (schizocarp), with the two wings spread horizontally, straight out to each side. Each fruit is 1/2-2" long.

Leaf and Bark Features

Deciduous: Opposite, simple leaves to 3-6" long and 5" wide, mostly 5-lobed, dark green above and olive-green and pubescent below, with 4-7" pubescent petioles having a milky sap at the base when detached from stem. Terminal buds brown, fuzzy and pointed. Leaves stay green until October, then turn pale yellow and drop quickly from the tree. Notable Bark: Bark is gray-brown to reddish-brown and corky when young, becoming broken and fissured, and finally scaly, with a fluted trunk.

Culture and Care

Moist, acid, well-drained soils are preferable, but clay soils are also tolerated. Hardiness zone 4-8. Prefers full sun. Resistant to most insect and disease problems.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

The name, "miyabei", is in honor of K. Miyabe, Japanese botanist and professor at the University of Sapporo. Many traits are similar to the Hedge Maple. This plant is rare in American gardens, because it is difficult to propagate.

Suggested Uses

Used as a small, unique shade tree in landscapes.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA