Cutleaf Japanese Maple

Cutleaf Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum var. dissectum

Aceraceae (Maple Family)

▲ younger, red-leaved form

▲ ▼ mature, red-leaved form

▲ ▼ green-leaved form

▲ ▼ leaves

Location on Missouri State University campus: on north side of Karls Hall (green-leaved form)

Acer palmatum 'Dissectum:' Cutleaf Japanese Maple

leaves opposite, deciduous, simple, palmately 5-9-lobed; lobes very deep and serrate on margins; leaves 2-5" long and wide; species foliage color is dark green and glabrous above and below, but many cultivars have reddish leaves; may turn yellow, orange, red or purple in fall
stems slender, glabrous, green to red when young; gray with age
bark is light to dark gray and smooth
prefers partial shade, but can tolerate full sun (if sufficiently mulched) or deeper shade (if green color leaves); prefers moist, well-drained, high organic matter soil
generally grows 15-25' tall and possibly wider in open, tiered canopy; may grow 40-50' in wild and some ‘Dissectum’ cultivars may only reach 4-5' tall
slow to medium growth rate; faster when young
many cultivars/varieties exist: common ones in trade include:
- var. atropurpureum-- has reddish leaves and stems
- ‘Dissectum’ � has finely divided leaves almost to leaflets with more deeper serrations on lobes
  - Usually grafted onto regular Japanese maple standard to form a weeping or spreading canopy
  - More sensitive to drought and heat than some Japanese maple cultivars, often causing browning of leaf tips
- Similar species
  - Acer japonicum: Full-Moon Maple
    - Has similar growth habit as Japanese maples, but more and more shallow lobes than Japanese maple
  - Acer circinnatum: Vine Maple
    - U.S. native to Pacific Northwest--similar to full-moon maple, but larger growing