Full Moon Japanese Maple Tree Seeds (Acer japonicum ‘Oisami’)

The widest maple leaves in the world. The most spectacular fall color of any maple.

Acer japonicum, the Full Moon Maple, is the larger, more boldly leaved relative of the Japanese Maple, producing round, deeply lobed leaves with 9 to 11 lobes that can reach 6 inches across and turn the most vivid shades of scarlet, crimson, and orange in fall of any maple species in cultivation. The Full Moon Maple is less commonly grown than its relative Acer palmatum but is considered by serious maple collectors to produce superior fall color and a more substantial, architectural presence in the garden. The 'Oisami' selection develops into an upright, spreading small tree with leaves that unfurl in spring tinged with red before settling into fresh green for summer. Seed-grown Full Moon Maples express the natural genetic variation of the species, producing trees with individual character that no grafted nursery selection can match. If you are looking to buy Full Moon Maple seeds or grow Japanese Full Moon Maple from seed, this is the maple that redefines what fall color means.

• The largest-leaved native maple of Japan, with round, 9 to 11-lobed leaves reaching 6 inches across
• Among the most vivid fall color displays of any maple in cultivation, deep scarlet to crimson
• Develops a more substantial, architectural form than Acer palmatum, suited to larger garden spaces
• Seed-grown specimens produce individual genetic variation in leaf form, color intensity, and growth habit
• Prized by Japanese maple collectors worldwide as a more dramatic alternative to the more common species

Things you probably did not know about the Full Moon Maple

It is named for the shape of its leaves. The Japanese name for Acer japonicum is Hauchiwa kaede, meaning round fan maple, referring to the nearly circular leaf outline that resembles a full moon. The leaf is so distinctive in its rounded, fan-like form that it has been used as a design motif in Japanese textile and ceramic art for centuries.

The fall color transition happens faster than almost any other maple. Full Moon Maple fall color often develops in a matter of days rather than the gradual progression seen in Sugar Maple or Red Maple. A tree that is entirely green on a Monday morning can be fully crimson by Thursday after the first cold night of autumn. The speed and intensity of the color change makes it one of the most dramatic events in any autumn garden.

It is significantly rarer in cultivation than Acer palmatum. While hundreds of Acer palmatum cultivars fill nursery catalogs, Acer japonicum remains much less commonly grown in western horticulture. The combination of superior fall color and relative scarcity makes it genuinely sought after by collectors and serious Japanese maple enthusiasts. Growing from seed is often the most accessible way to acquire it.

The leaves are edible in Japan. Young Full Moon Maple leaves are battered and deep-fried in a Japanese confection called momiji tempura, a traditional autumn treat sold at temples and festivals in Osaka and throughout the Kansai region. The leaves are sometimes salt-preserved for up to a year before frying. The resulting tempura is delicate, crisp, and mildly sweet, one of the most unusual edible leaf preparations in any culinary tradition.

Growing Details

• Botanical Name: Acer japonicum 'Oisami'
• Stratification: Required, 90 to 120 days cold moist stratification
• USDA Zones: 5 to 7
• Soil: Well-drained, moist, slightly acidic, rich in organic matter
• Light: Full sun to partial shade, best fall color with some direct sun
• Height: 20 to 30 feet
• Spread: 20 to 30 feet
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate, 1 to 1.5 feet per year

Plant it where you will see it from inside the house in October. The color it produces in a good fall is the kind of thing people stop and photograph from the sidewalk.