Japanese name: ヤマモミジ（山紅葉） Scientific name:Acer amoenum var. matsumurae
[Overview]
A deciduous tree 12–15 m tall, growing in mountainous areas on the Sea of Japan side.
The leaves are opposite, 5–10 cm across, palmately divided into 7–9 lobes, and have irregular, notched teeth.
The leaf stalk is about 1/2–4/5 the length of the leaf.
The leaves usually turn red in autumn, but some turn yellow.
The flowers are borne 15–30 in compound corymbs arising from the leaf axils, with male and bisexual flowers on the same tree.
The flowers are 4–6 mm across, with 5 sepals and 5 petals.
The petals are pale yellow to red and the sepals are red.
The fruits are borne in pairs, each with a propeller-like wing, and the wings spread at an obtuse angle.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
It prefers a well-drained site from partial shade to full sun.
Partial shade is better, especially while the tree is young.
In shade the autumn color develops poorly.
Longhorn beetles and aphids cause damage, so kill them as soon as they are found.
