Tree · Sapindaceae family
full-moon maple
Acer japonicum
In short a 10-second read
Full-moon maple (tree) grows to 4.5–9 m tall and 4.5–9 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −29 °C.
× spread 4.5–9 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −29 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average to moist · watering: moderate
Soil: humus-rich, loamy
Soil pH 5–7
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 10–20 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove dead, diseased or damaged branches, crossing branches and shoots growing in the wrong direction (November–December).
Planting
container plant: October–April; bare-root: October–March; root-balled: October–March
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −29 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Does full-moon maple tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does full-moon maple need?
At maturity 4.5–9 m wide and 4.5–9 m tall; recommended spacing 450 cm.
Does full-moon maple survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 17 October 2026.
Show sources (15)
- GBIF — Acer japonicum
- rastlinky.sk — blog e-shopu „Okrasné stromy do malej záhrady“
- NC State Extension
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (species/match)
- Wikipedia (EN)
- RHS - Acer japonicum
- RHS - Shrubs and trees: light pruning
- RHS - Bleeding from pruning cuts
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow trees
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: Slovakia, Czechia, Germany
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