Redvien maple is a deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) native to Japan. The genus Acer means maple and the rufinerves r efers to the reddish down on the vein of the leaf. It is one of the most commonly planted snakebark maples and is a hardy, fast grower reaching heights of 30-40 feet tall. Plant in full sun, it will withstand a wide range of soil types except damp to wet sites. Spring flowers are followed by winged samaras in the fall. Leaves turn yellow and red in the fall. Use this tree as a shade tree or specimen in an Asian garden, woodland garden or naturalized setting. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Relatively short-lived. See potential disease and insect problem fact sheets to the left. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common 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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Growth rate
Rapid
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf margin
Lobed; Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
2.5 to 6 in. simple, opposite leaves with 3 lobes; deep green in summer; yellow to gold with crimson-toned fall color. Undersides have reddish hairs along the veins.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Five yellow to greenish-yellow sepals and petals.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Paired samara 1 inch long with rounded nutlets
Bark color
Dark Brown; Green; Light Brown; Light Gray; White
Bark detail
Bark on young trees is smooth, olive-green with regular narrow vertical pale green to greyish stripe. Older bark is grey-green with narrow grey-white longitudinal stripes.
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.