Sielbold Maple is a small to medium, slow-growing deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) native to Asia. The genus Acer means maple in Latin. It is named after Philipp Franz von Siebold. It will grow 15-30 feet tall but can be grown in a pot for a smaller patio tree. Pruning will help it form either a multi-trunk or single-trunk tree. It is adaptable to various soil types in sun to partial shade. The best fall color occurs in sunnier sites. The leaves are distinguished by having 9-11 lobes and new leaves are downy with the undersides retaining some of the downiness all year. In fall the leaves turn to beautiful red and orange tones. The spring flowers are yellow and are followed by samaras in fall. Makes a nice tree for a small yard, as a specimen, in a container on the patio or to create an Asian theme. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. See potential disease and insect problem fact sheets to the left. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests. More information on Acer .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Palmasect
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
3 to 4 in. opposite, simple leaves with 9 to 11 lobes. Young leaves hairy and undersides remain hairy. Yellow-orange fall color
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Corymb; Insignificant
Flower detail
Yellow flowers produced in corymbs and can contain both sexes or just male flowers.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Green; Orange; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
2-winged samara matures in fall.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
Smoothe gray-brown bark
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The young shoots are green to red, thinly covered with white hairs in their first year.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Asia
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.
Attracts
Moths; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Samara
Uses (ethnobotany)
Outstanding landscape plant. Can also be grown in pots for a smaller patio tree.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Naturalized Area; Small Space; Walkways
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Nighttime Garden; Pollinator Garden
Garden tags
#deciduous #yellow leaves #full sun tolerant #orange leaves #shade tree #small tree #imperial moth #larval host plant #nighttime garden #fall interest #deciduous tree #pollinator plant #patio #wildlife friendly