Autumn Moon Full Moon Maple

Autumn Moon Fullmoon Maple (Acer shirasawanum 'Autumn Moon')

Autumn Moon Fullmoon Maple (Acer shirasawanum 'Autumn Moon') is a compact ornamental maple prized for its bold, rounded leaves and warm, luminous color that shifts through the seasons. In spring and summer, the foliage often carries soft golden to chartreuse tones with hints of orange, creating a bright canopy that feels refined and calm at the same time. As temperatures cool, the leaves transition into richer oranges and reds, giving the plant a strong autumn finish without needing a large footprint. With its layered branching and glowing foliage, Autumn Moon is an easy focal point for entry gardens, patios, and small landscape spaces where you want a high-end, design-forward look.

Distinctive Features

The leaves are broad, rounded, and deeply lobed, giving the canopy a full, textured look that stands out from finer-leaved Japanese maples. Color is the signature trait, with warm tones that can look almost backlit in the right light, especially in morning sun or late afternoon. The tree typically forms a graceful, mounded structure with attractive branching, providing visual interest even when it is not in peak color. It performs best with protection from harsh afternoon sun and drying winds, which helps the foliage stay clean and prevents scorch in hotter sites.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Part shade is ideal; morning sun with afternoon shade helps maintain best leaf color and prevent scorch.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained, organic-rich soil; slightly acidic to neutral is ideal.
• Water: Moderate; keep evenly moist during establishment and water during extended dry spells.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 7.
• Habit: Deciduous small tree with a rounded, mounded form and layered branching.
• Mature Size: About 8 to 12 feet tall and 10 to 14 feet wide.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use as a specimen where glowing foliage can take center stage in the garden.
• Entry and Courtyard Gardens: Add a refined, design-forward look near doors, walkways, and patios.
• Woodland Edge Accent: Tuck into lightly shaded edges where the warm leaf tones brighten the space.
• Container Feature: Use in a large container to bring structure and color to patios and outdoor living areas.
• Evergreen Contrast Planting: Pair with dark conifers or hedges to make the foliage color appear even richer.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water deeply during the first one to two seasons; maintain even moisture in summer for best foliage quality.
• Mulching: Apply a 2 to 3 inch mulch layer over the root zone to conserve moisture and protect roots, keeping mulch off the trunk.
• Pruning: Prune lightly in late winter to remove crossing branches and refine structure; avoid heavy pruning.
• Fertilizing: Feed lightly in spring if growth is slow; avoid overfertilizing, which can push soft growth.
• Site Selection: Protect from harsh afternoon sun and strong wind to reduce leaf scorch and keep the canopy looking clean.

Why Choose Autumn Moon Fullmoon Maple?

• Glowing Seasonal Color: Warm golden tones in the growing season with a strong orange-red fall finish.
• Bold Leaf Texture: Rounded, fullmoon-style leaves create a lush, substantial canopy on a compact tree.
• Perfect Small-Scale Focal Point: Adds a high-end ornamental look without requiring a large space.
• Refined Form: Layered branching and a mounded habit bring structure and garden style.
• Easy to Design With: Pairs beautifully with evergreens, shade perennials, and stone or wood hardscape.

If you want a compact ornamental maple with bold leaves and warm, glowing color that elevates smaller garden spaces, Autumn Moon Fullmoon Maple delivers standout seasonal interest and focal point presence in a refined, landscape-friendly form.