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Spring flowers and leaf buds
| Acer pycnanthum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Autumn colors | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Sapindaceae |
| Genus: | Acer |
| Section: | Acer sect. Rubra |
| Species: | A. pycnanthum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Acer pycnanthum | |
Acer pycnanthum, the Japanese red maple, (ハナノキ, hananoki, or 花の木, hanakaede, meaning "flower maple") is a species of maple native to Japan, and introduced to Korea.[3] A tree usually about 20 m, reaching 30 m, it prefers to grow in relict mountain wetlands. It flowers in April, prior to the emergence of leaves.[4] Although considered Vulnerable in its native habitat, it has found some use as a street tree, and is the official tree of a number of Japanese municipalities and of Aichi Prefecture.[1]
Acer pycnanthum is dioecious, with separate male and female flowers.[5] The bark is grey and longitudinally fissured, sometimes giving a shaggy appearance.[6] The leaves, which emerge a bronze-green color in the spring, are shallowly lobed and have a whitish bloom on the underside. They turn yellow, orange, red, and purple in the autumn.[7] It is similar to the smaller Acer rubrum.[8]
A. pycanthum is suitable for USDA hardiness zone 5.[6] It prefers full sun to partial shade and is hardy in all of the UK and northern Europe.[7] Common problems include aphids and verticillium wilt.[8]
