Seki No Kegon Weeping Full Moon Maple

Seki No Kegon Weeping Full Moon Maple (Acer sieboldianum 'Seki no kegan')

Seki No Kegon Weeping Full Moon Maple (Acer sieboldianum 'Seki no kegan') is a distinctive ornamental maple prized for its graceful weeping habit and rounded, full moon style leaves that bring a calm, sculptural look to the landscape. The cascading branches create a soft, flowing silhouette that instantly feels intentional, making it a natural choice for small gardens, courtyards, and patio plantings. Through the growing season, the foliage stays a clean green with a refined texture, then shifts into warm fall tones that can include orange and red depending on conditions. With its elegant form and manageable size, this tree makes an excellent focal point where shape and movement matter as much as color.

Distinctive Features

The defining feature is the weeping structure, with arching branches that drape downward and create a layered canopy you can appreciate from every angle. Leaves are rounded and lobed, giving the tree a fuller texture than laceleaf types while still reading as refined and garden-forward. The branching structure remains attractive in winter, adding a sculptural element even after leaves drop. Because the habit is so unique, this maple looks best when given a clear backdrop or open space around it so the cascading form can be seen and enjoyed.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Part shade is ideal; morning sun with afternoon shade helps maintain leaf quality and reduce stress in hotter sites.
• 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 weeping tree with a cascading, mounded form.
• Mature Size: About 6 to 10 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use as a specimen where the cascading form can anchor the design and draw the eye.
• Courtyard and Patio Gardens: Place near outdoor living spaces so the weeping silhouette can be enjoyed up close.
• Japanese-Inspired Design: Pair with stone, gravel, evergreens, and simple understory plantings for a calm, curated look.
• Near Water or Hardscape: Use by ponds, boulders, and retaining walls where the draping branches complement the setting.
• Evergreen Contrast Planting: Set against dark conifers or hedges to make the form and fall color stand out.

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 refine the outline and remove crossing branches; avoid heavy pruning that disrupts the natural drape.
• Fertilizing: Feed lightly in spring if growth is slow; avoid overfertilizing which can push soft growth.
• Site Selection: Protect from harsh wind and intense afternoon sun to reduce stress and keep leaves looking clean.

Why Choose Seki No Kegon Weeping Full Moon Maple?

• Graceful Weeping Form: Cascading branches create a sculptural silhouette that looks designed from day one.
• Rounded Leaf Texture: Full moon style leaves bring refined texture without the fine laceleaf look.
• Perfect Small-Scale Focal Point: Adds an artistic tree feature without requiring a large space.
• Seasonal Color: Finishes the season with warm fall tones that add another layer of interest.
• High-End Garden Character: Delivers a calm, curated presence that elevates patios, courtyards, and refined beds.

If you want a compact ornamental maple with a graceful cascading habit and refined full moon foliage, Seki No Kegon Weeping Full Moon Maple delivers sculptural focal point presence and seasonal beauty in a garden-friendly size.