Soapberry family, Sapindaceae
Origin: Japan, Korea, China
Habitat in the original area: shrubs and forests extending from lowlands to mountains
Habitus: A shrub or smaller tree that can grow as a multi-stem. It grows to the height of 15 metres. The bark is grey-green and smooth. The crown is often drooping.
Leaf: There are about 1,000 well-known cultivars of Japanese Maple, which differ in the shape and colour of the leaves. In parks, 2 different cultivars with different leaf shapes can be found a few meters apart. The leaves are usually petiolate, palmately lobed with five to nine lobes, doubly serrate along the edge and pointed at the top. The leaves of the original species remain green throughout the season, and they turn into a distinctive red in autumn. All-year-round coloured cultivars have also been produced.
Bloom, fruit: The plant blooms from May to June. The blooms are small with 5 red sepals and 5 white petals. The fruit is a winged, obtuse-angled achene.
Interesting facts: This maple is often grown as a bonsai.
