Miyabe maple (Acer miyabe)

Species info:

Leaves: Mostly 5-lobed; dark green on the upper surface with an olive-green underside. Margins are irregularly toothed. Leaves turn quickly to pale yellow in fall.

Leaflets: None (simple leaf).

Leaf Surface: Slightly glossy above; matte and olive-toned beneath.

Bark: Grayish, scaly, and shedding in long strips; becomes more textured with age.

Twigs: Stout, smooth, brown to gray-brown.

Flowers: Greenish-yellow; borne in slender-stalked pyramidal corymbs in spring.

Fruit: Typical maple samaras (not described in source but characteristic of species): paired, widely spreading, and tan when mature.

Botanical: Acer miyabe

Family: Sapidaceae

Mature Height: Up to 60 feet

Canopy Spread: Up to 50 feet

Foliage Type: Deciduous

Tree Shape: Upright-oval when young, becoming rounded with maturity

Growth Rate: Fast

Fall Color: Pale yellow; color develops quickly and leaves drop soon after

Water Use: Moderate; prefers consistent moisture

Hardiness: Zones 4–8; withstands extreme cold (down to –30°F)

Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained soils; tolerant of a range of urban soil conditions once established

Sun Exposure: Full sun

Wildlife Value: Flowers support early-season pollinators; seeds may attract small mammals and birds

Pests/Pathogens: Generally resistant; notably tolerant of heat, drought, and urban stress compared to many maples

Planting Recommendations: Recommended for most sites, but has variable cold hardiness

Information Sources:

• Front Range Tree Recommendation List

• Dirr, Michael Dr., "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants," 1998.

• The Morton Arboretum, "Miyabe's maple," 2015.