Please help identify this japanese maple!!!

Matt Evans

10 years ago

My neighbor bought this maple from a nursery last year.

We are hoping to learn the japanese name for this varietal.

It is a red wing lace leaf japanese maple that turns dark red in fall.

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

10 years ago

With nearly 1000 registered cultivars, many with almost imperceptible differences, it is virtually impossible to accurately ID a Japanese maple other than those that are extremely unique. Even JM experts are not inclined to assign specific cultivar ID's. And a great many grown and/or sold are seed grown so no identification beyond just the species exists.

It would certainly help to see a photo of the tree in its entirety but I'd suspect this may be a laceleaf full moon maple, Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' - the leaf is not very characteristic of any Acer palmatum. Did the tree not come properly tagged and identified?

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Comments (7)

houzi
10 years ago
I think Gardengal's keen eyes are probably correct :)
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David (N.E. Georgia, zone 8a)
10 years ago
I have a young Dancing Peacock (Aconitifolium) and it's leaves look exactly like that. Those red wings are seeds just in case you didn't know.
Mike McGarvey
10 years ago
Here's my Acer j. 'Aconitifolium' last Fall.

I'd call it a match!
CEFreeman_GW DC/MD Burbs 7b/8a
10 years ago
It certainly looks like at least the Japonicum type, doesn't it?

Those are some gorgeous 'Aconitifolium' examples. I love mine, too.

Keep in mind that the Green Cascade looks a little like this, but I think its leaves are a little feather-y-ier.

I'd never heard of a red wing laceleaf. A lace leaf it's not. Glad David mentioned that! LOL!
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
10 years ago
"red wing" is only describing the samaras or seed structures. Many laceleaf maples (var. dissectum) produce red samaras, generally those with red foliage.
Mike McGarvey
10 years ago
Here's one of mine grown from a seed that has red samaras. The leaves are still green.