Hawthorn maple is a deciduous small tree or large shrub in the maple family (Sapindaceae) native to the mountains of central and southern Japan. The Japanese name urikaede refers to the bark pattern. This tree reaches a mature height and width of 15 to 20 feet. Provide a location with well-drained soil and occasional watering during summer dry spells. Protect the bark from winter frost and full sun as it is prone to cracking. It is somewhat difficult to propagate and is therefore not very common. The green to greenish-brown and white striped bark is attractive all year but provides excellent winter interest. Shoots are greenish-red and buds are purple-red. The upright vase shape provides sculptural interest in the landscape and requires very little pruning to keep branches up and out of garden beds. Take advantage of the interesting bark and sculptural branches by using this tree in a winter garden. It is also at home in an Asian-themed, pollinator or nighttime garden as it is the larval host plant for moths. The small size makes it ideal for small spaces. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. See potential insect and disease problem fact sheets to the left. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests. More information on Acer .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12-24 feet
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Vase
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves turn gold in fall and all drop at once making clean up easy. Leaves ovate-triangular 3-5 inches long and 2-6 inches wide. They can be either unlobed or three-lobed. Blades are dark green to bluish green and often tinged reddish above, paler green below. Petioles are red 1–2 inches long.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Insignificant; Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Insignificant, pale yellow to green and formed on drooping racemes.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit detail
Fruit is a paired samara, pink or red maturing to brown.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Green; Light Brown
Bark detail
Green to greenish brown and white striped bark that resembles the skin of a melon, hence the Japanese name urikaede which means melon. The bark is attractive all year but provides excellent winter interest. Shoots are greenish red and buds are purple red. The upright vase shape is very attractive and requires very little pruning to keep branches up and out of garden beds. Protect the bark from winter frost and full sun as it is prone to cracking.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Shoots are greenish red and buds are purple red. The upright vase shape is very attractive and requires very little pruning to keep branches up and out of garden beds.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.
Attracts
Moths; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Samara
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Patio
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Nighttime Garden; Pollinator Garden; Winter Garden