Acer shirasawanum Moonrise Munn001 - Japanese Maple

Acer shirasawanum Moonrise 'Munn001' is a new variety of Japanese maple, still rare in cultivation. It displays a gorgeous salmon pink to orange spring foliage, turns chartreuse green in summer, and then adorns itself with new red and copper orange shoots in autumn. This maple also stands out for its curiously rounded fan-shaped leaves, its excellent resistance to diseases that usually affect Japanese maples, and its increased tolerance to the sun. To fully appreciate its metamorphosis, plant it near your house or in a large pot on your terrace. It looks stunning as a solitary tree in a small garden, whether it be Japanese-style, zen-inspired, exotic, or contemporary.

Like all maples, it belongs to the Sapindaceae family (formerly Aceraceae). Acer shirasawanum, from which it descends, is a distinct Japanese maple species from Acer palmatum. It is particularly native to the mountains of Honshu and Shikoku. It is beautifully named "Full moon maple" due to the rounded shape of its leaves and their particularly luminous appearance. This slow-growing tall tree, which can reach 15m (49ft) in height in the wild, is the origin of some very beautiful varieties such as the 'Aureum' forms, from which Moonrise descends, recently introduced to the United States.

Moonrise is a very hardy small tree, which tolerates the presence of small amounts of limestone in the soil. With its slow growth, it gradually takes on a bushy and rounded habit, almost as wide as it is tall. At maturity, it will reach a maximum height of 2m (7ft) and a spread of 1.75m (6ft). Its almost horizontal branches develop magnificent deciduous leaves, circular in shape, which can measure up to 15cm (6in) in length and 10cm (4in) in width. They are carried by red petioles and their edges are divided into 7 to 13 lobes. The foliage colouration depends on sun exposure: a very bright exposure is necessary, but excessively scorching sun should be avoided. Inconspicuous yellow-green flowers bloom in April-May, depending on the climate. The flowers, grouped in small upright clusters, produce fruits with recurved wings, called samaras, which are initially green before turning carmine red when ripe. This variety has smooth, grey-brown bark.

Moonrise grows best in neutral to slightly acidic, moist, fertile, loose, and well-drained soil in a sunny to partially shaded position, sheltered from cold and dry winds. Compact but sculptural, it is well-suited for small gardens, as well as for decorating terraces, patios, and shaded rockeries. Azaleas, pieris, rhododendrons, wild camellias, and heathers will be its most beautiful companions. Combine several varieties of Japanese maple to vary the colours and structures of the foliage; the effect is always dazzling at the end of the season. Its foliage deserves to be accompanied by shades of purple that beautifully enhance it from spring to autumn: for example, choose physocarpus, dark berberis, or a purple hazel for a dazzling scene.