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Small deciduous tree or large shrub
Sapindaceae
Zone 5 collector maple with apricot and bronzy-gold foliage
‘Autumn Moon’ full moon maple
Acer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’
Autumn Moon is a Japanese full moon maple with a broadly upright habit and angular branching, growing approximately 4.5 m high and 3.5 to 4 m wide. Rounded nine- to eleven-lobed leaves emerge apricot, burnt orange and bronzy gold, become more yellow-green in shade, then turn orange and red in autumn. Hardy in Canadian Zone 5, it prefers a sheltered site, morning sun to partial shade and organic, evenly moist, very well-drained soil. Growth of 15 to 30 cm per year requires little pruning. Protect the crown from salt, drying wind and scorching afternoon sun while maintaining consistent root-zone moisture.
3 gallons
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- Quantity
- 3 gallons
- Exposure
- Morning sun, filtered light or partial shade; protect from intense afternoon sun
- Hardiness
- Zone 5
Discover the plant
Common nameAutumn Moon full moon maple; Autumn Moon Shirasawa maple
FamilySapindaceae
GenusAcer
Speciesshirasawanum
CultivarAutumn Moon
TypeSmall deciduous tree or large shrub
Botanical nameAcer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’
Autumn Moon full moon maple (Acer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’) is a collectible Japanese small tree with angular branching and a broadly upright habit. Rounded, firm leaves divided into nine to eleven lobes emerge in shades of apricot, burnt orange and bronzy gold. Gentle sun sustains the warmest colouring, while shade produces more yellow-green foliage. Autumn brings a luminous mixture of orange and red. Cream-and-pink flowers stand in small upright clusters in spring, followed by nearly horizontal greenish-brown samaras. Plan for approximately 4.5 m of height and 3.5 to 4 m of spread, with potential for a very old specimen to grow larger over several decades.
Hardy in Canadian Zone 5, Autumn Moon succeeds in a site sheltered from drying wind, road salt and reflected heat. Provide morning sun, filtered light or partial shade; in hot locations, protect the crown from intense afternoon exposure that can scorch leaf margins. Soil should be organic, evenly moist, slightly acidic to neutral and very well drained. Keep the root flare visible, maintain 5 to 8 cm of mulch without touching the trunk and water deeply during establishment. Its slow to moderate growth, approximately 15 to 30 cm per year, does not justify heavy feeding or repeated pruning. Consistent moisture supports colour without waterlogging roots.
Use Autumn Moon as a focal point beside a patio, in a protected courtyard, Japanese-style garden or bed viewed from the house. Allow its mature spread and provide a green or dark background that reveals apricot and gold tones. The 3-gallon sale format represents a young tree that will gain substantial size. A large container is possible temporarily, but roots are more exposed to Canadian winter cold; sheltered in-ground planting is safer long term. Prune only dead, broken, diseased or crossing wood after leaves expand, and consult a certified arborist before a major cut. Its refined character depends on thoughtful placement rather than intensive shaping.
Planting guide
From planting to establishment.
Spacing / density
Space 3.5 to 4 m (12 to 13 ft) apart for the mature crown
Best planting time
Spring or early fall, allowing enough time for rooting before freeze-up
Propagation
Nursery grafting to preserve the cultivar faithfully
Soil and care
The right care,at the right time.
Minimum temperature
Approximately -29 °C (-20 °F) in a sheltered site
Care level
Moderate
Watering
Water slowly and deeply after planting, then keep the root ball and neighbouring soil evenly moist through the first two growing seasons. Check moisture beneath mulch before irrigating again. Continue watering during extended rain-free periods, particularly in a sunny site or beside a heat-storing surface. Avoid small daily applications against the trunk, standing water and repeated swings between complete dryness and saturation. Expand the watered area as roots extend beyond the original planting hole.
Soil type
Choose organic, evenly moist, very well-drained soil that is slightly acidic to neutral. Loam enriched with organic matter suits the tree better than compact clay or rapidly drying sand. Loosen a broad area, set the root flare at grade and preserve uncompacted soil beyond the root ball. Avoid saturated depressions, alkaline fill and saline runoff from paving. Soil structure and moisture balance matter more than applying a precise pH value without testing.
Fertilization
In well-prepared organic soil, a thin surface layer of mature compost in spring and 5 to 8 cm of organic mulch are generally sufficient. If growth or colour appears weak, test the soil before using a mild labelled tree fertilizer. Avoid heavy nitrogen, product against the trunk and late feeding that extends soft growth before Canadian winter. Correct light, drainage and irrigation before assuming fertilizer will improve foliage colour.
Moisture
Evenly moist soil without standing water
Seasonal care
In spring, inspect the trunk, graft union, root flare and main branch unions after snowmelt. Restore 5 to 8 cm of mulch without covering bark, remove tight ties and water when rainfall is inadequate. Observe cream-and-pink flowers and compare bud break across several branches before declaring winter injury. In summer, check moisture, drainage, reflected heat and exposure when margins brown. Watch for aphids, mites, scale insects, leaf spots, cankers and Verticillium symptoms, then obtain a diagnosis before treating. Prune after leaves expand to remove only dead, broken, diseased or crossing wood and rootstock shoots. Never top the crown or try to keep it artificially dwarf. In autumn, observe orange and red colour, water deeply before freeze-up when soil is dry and collect heavily spotted foliage. In winter, direct salt-laden snow elsewhere and protect a young trunk from rodents without tightening the guard. For a temporary container, insulate the root ball and limit freeze-thaw cycles. After storms, have major cracks assessed by a certified arborist. Record irrigation, colour and scorch dates so exposure can be refined without confusing seasonal variation with disease. Reassess shelter and drainage annually as nearby structures and plants change. Photograph the same branches each season, check irrigation emitters after setup and note changes in shade created by nearby plants, fences or buildings before relocating the maple. Repeat this review each year.
Container growing
A garden,within reach.
Recommended pot size
Container at least 60 cm wide and deep, enlarged as needed, with unobstructed drainage holes
Possible temporarily in a large, very well-drained container with winter root protection; sheltered in-ground planting preferred long term
Bloom and dimensions
Its place,in your garden.
Mature height
3 to 4 m (10 to 13 feet)
Width / spread
3 m (10 feet)
Flower color
Cream and pink, inconspicuous
Foliage color
Apricot, burnt orange and bronzy gold in gentle sun; yellow-green in shade; orange and red in autumn
Foliage type
Deciduous
Growth rate
Slow to moderate, approximately 15 to 30 cm per year
Growth habit
Broadly upright, multibranched, with angular branching
Bloom period
Cream-and-pink flowers appear in spring in small upright, spreading clusters. They are subtle beside the coloured foliage but help identify a full moon maple. After pollination they produce nearly horizontal samaras approximately 2 cm across, initially green and later brownish. Avoid non-targeted insecticides during bloom and note weather because a late frost can reduce fruiting for one season. Flower and fruit quantity also varies with age and site conditions.
Fruiting
Nearly horizontal winged samaras approximately 2 cm across follow the flowers. They are initially green, become brownish as they mature and remain a secondary feature beside the foliage. Quantity varies with maturity, pollination and late frost. Seedlings do not reproduce the grafted Autumn Moon cultivar faithfully and must not carry its name. Remove misplaced volunteers while young, especially when they compete with the root zone or appear beyond the maintained bed.
Garden associations
In goodcompany.
Companion plants
Pair Autumn Moon with green conifers, ferns, sedges, foamflowers, coral bells, compact serviceberries, bush honeysuckles and native perennials suited to fresh, drained soil. Their foliage creates a dark or textured background that emphasizes apricot and bronzy gold. Establish them toward the future crown perimeter without cutting roots, covering the flare or creating immediate competition. Avoid invasive groundcovers and large shrubs that would trap low branches. Preserve open access for deep irrigation and graft-union inspection. Match moisture needs so companions do not force either drought or saturation around the maple.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions,answered.
How does Autumn Moon colour differ in sun and shade?
In gentle sun, particularly morning light, leaves show more apricot, burnt orange and bronzy gold. In shade they become more yellow-green. Autumn can bring orange and red in either position. Intense afternoon exposure may scorch margins, especially when soil dries or wind is desiccating. Choose filtered light, morning sun or bright partial shade, then keep soil evenly moist. Colour also varies with season, weather and leaf age, so it should not be presented as one fixed shade guaranteed throughout the year. Compare several branches before changing exposure, since outer and inner leaves naturally receive different light levels throughout the canopy.
How large does Autumn Moon maple become?
Plan for approximately 4.5 m of height and 3.5 to 4 m of spread in a garden, with potential for a very old specimen to approach 6 m. Annual growth of 15 to 30 cm is slow to moderate but continues for many years. The 3-gallon format describes sale size only and does not make the cultivar dwarf. Keep the future crown away from walls, narrow passages and heat-storing surfaces. Do not correct an undersized site through annual shearing; reserve space at planting and remove only problematic wood after leaves expand. Mature dimensions should guide placement rather than the compact appearance of a young nursery plant.
Can Autumn Moon grow in a container in Canada?
Yes, temporarily in a container at least 60 cm wide and deep with generous drainage holes. Use an aerated medium, keep the root flare visible and water when the upper layer begins to dry. Container roots are far more exposed to cold, wind and freeze-thaw cycles than roots in the ground. Before winter, move the pot to a sheltered location and insulate the root ball without trapping water. Do not bring the dormant tree into a warm room. For a specimen expected to reach 4.5 m, sheltered in-ground planting remains the most reliable long-term solution in Canadian Zone 5. Increase container size before roots circle densely.
Why do Autumn Moon leaves develop brown margins?
Margins may brown when afternoon sun is too intense, wind dries foliage, the root ball lacks water or salts reach the roots. First check moisture beneath mulch and drainage, because saturated soil can damage roots and produce drought-like symptoms. Observe several branches, exposure and the timing of symptoms. Water deeply when needed, direct salt-laden snow elsewhere and provide light protection from scorching sun without enclosing the crown. If dieback progresses, look for spots, cankers or Verticillium symptoms and obtain a diagnosis before treatment. Do not apply fertilizer simply because leaf edges are brown, as excess salts can make the problem worse.
How should Autumn Moon maple be pruned?
Respect its broadly upright habit and angular branching. After leaves expand, remove only dead, broken, diseased or crossing wood and any shoot arising from the rootstock. Use clean tools and cut just outside the branch collar without leaving a stub. Never top the crown, shear it into a ball or try to hold the tree at its sale-container size. Correct planting distance reduces future cuts. Hire a certified arborist for a large branch, crack or elevated work. Clean tools between cuts when disease is suspected and obtain a diagnosis first. Minimal pruning preserves both the winter framework and the naturally layered foliage display.
Wildlife and pets
Life,around your plants.
Supporting wildlife
Small spring flowers may support some insects and the crown can provide occasional shelter. Samaras may also offer food, but this Japanese species is not native in Canada. Add diverse regional flowering and fruiting plants, avoid non-targeted pesticides during bloom and maintain a layered garden rather than presenting the maple as a major habitat source. Native companions provide stronger long-term ecological value while preserving the ornamental focal point.