Acer shirasawanum Moonrise

Acer shirasawanum 'Moonrise' is a compact, deciduous Japanese maple grown for its striking seasonal foliage and naturally bushy, rounded habit. Fresh growth in spring shows warm tones that mature to soft yellow‑green through summer, followed by rich autumn tints. Plant in a sheltered spot with bright, filtered light to avoid leaf scorch from hot afternoon sun and drying winds. It prefers moist but well‑drained, humus‑rich soil that is neutral to acidic, and does not thrive on very alkaline (chalky) ground. Slow growing, it forms a small tree or large shrub typically reaching around 2.5–4m in time, making an excellent specimen for woodland and Japanese‑style plantings.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Partial shade; tolerates some sun with shelter

Rate of Growth: Slow

Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich; neutral to acidic; avoid chalk

Hardiness: Fully hardy

Plant at a Glance