Acer cissifolium
aka
Japanese Box Elder
Taxonomy
Acer cissifolium, also known as vine-leafed maple or vineleaf maple, is a deciduous small tree or large shrub native to Japan. It can reach heights of 5-10 meters, occasionally up to 15 meters, with a rounded crown and smooth grey bark. The young shoots are green, sometimes tinged pink, and hairy in their early stages, eventually turning grey. The trifoliate leaves have slender red petioles up to 10 cm long, with three leaflets that are 4-10 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. The leaflets have serrated margins and are matte green on top, paler and slightly shiny underneath. In autumn, they turn pale yellow to pinkish. The tree is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees. The pendulous racemes of flowers can reach lengths of 10-16 cm and consist of four sepals and petals. The fruit is a paired samara, with nutlets measuring 7 mm long and wings spanning 15-25 mm, spreading at an acute angle. The leaves of Acer cissifolium are reminiscent of those of the vine genus Cissus, which inspired its scientific and English names. It is a small, spreading tree, reaching heights of 8 meters and widths of 12 meters. The oval, coarsely-toothed leaflets start off bronze-tinged when young and mature to a dark green color, transitioning to shades of red and yellow in autumn. Tiny yellow flowers appear in racemes up to 10 cm long during spring. The natural range of Acerissifolium is limited to Japan, specifically southern Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. It thrives in deciduous forests, growing at elevations of 200 to 1300 meters in Honshu's mountains. The tree has a round and wide crown, with dense horizontal branches. The bark on the branches and trunk becomes coarse and gray over time. The tripartite leaves resemble those of certain species of the Maiden Grape genus (Parthenocissus). They are elongated ovoid, pointed, and roughly and sharply serrated along the edges. The leaves are pubescent, light green, and glabrous above. The middle leaflet can reach lengths of 5-10 cm, with a 1-2 cm long petiole, while the lateral leaflets are slightly smaller. Acer cissifolium is dioecious, with small yellow-green flowers appearing after the leaves have opened. The flowers are arranged in erect or hanging downy clusters of 20-50 flowers, each with four sepals and petals. Male flowers possess 4, occasionally 5, stamens, while female flowers lack any stamen rudiments. The fruit consists of paired lionfish with light red wings positioned at acute angles to each other, with strongly curved inward tips. The total length of the winglet, along with the seed, ranges from 2.5 to 3 cm.
Common names
Japanese Box Elder, Ivy Leaf Maple, Ivyleaf Maple
How to care for Japanese Box Elder
Caring for Japanese Box Elder is a breeze, as it is highly adaptable and forgiving to minor neglect.
Japanese Box Elder should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Japanese Box Elder is very sensitive to dry soil. To ensure your Ivy Leaf Maple is thriving and blooming, choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil should still allow for adequate drainage and contain lots of organic matter. Coco coir or sphagnum moss are great soil additives that will help to retain moisture and provide your Ivy Leaf Maple with the nutrients it needs for healthy growth. Make sure to mix these soil additives into the potting soil before planting and water the soil thoroughly. By providing your Japanese Box Elder with a well-draining, moisture-retaining soil, you can help to maximize its growth and keep it blooming.
To ensure optimal growth, the Japanese Box Elder prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.
Ploi lacks confirmed information on the toxicity of this plant. If you, a relative, or your pet accidentally consume plant material with unknown toxicity, it's best to consult a medical expert.
The Japanese Box Elder grows at a slow pace and doesn't require any supplementary fertilizers. By renewing its potting soil once a year, it should receive enough nourishment. Remember, plants obtain their energy from sunlight, not fertilizers.
More info:
Wikipedia
