Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' | 3 Litre Pot | 25cm - 30cm Height

Bring vibrant golden elegance to your garden with Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’, the revered Golden Full Moon Maple. This deciduous specimen offers year-round beauty.

Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ is a truly exceptional small tree or large shrub, cherished for its spectacular foliage. Originating from Japan, this cultivar brings a unique luminosity to any UK garden setting. Its striking golden-yellow leaves illuminate shadier spots, offering visual warmth throughout the growing season. As autumn arrives, the vibrant golden hues transform into fiery oranges and reds, creating a breathtaking display. This cultivar, often known as the Golden Full Moon Maple, thrives in conditions that mimic its native woodland environment.

Key Features of Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’

• Distinctive fan-shaped, golden-yellow leaves
• Elegant, open, and graceful growth habit
• Brilliant autumn colours of orange and red
• Compact size, suitable for smaller gardens or containers
• Provides excellent year-round structural interest
• Relatively low maintenance once established

The Allure of Golden Full Moon Maple Foliage

The name Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ means “golden” in Latin, perfectly describing its most captivating feature: its leaves. These beautiful leaves emerge a bright chartreuse in spring, gradually maturing to a rich, luminous golden-yellow during summer. Their distinctive fan shape and delicate texture add an exquisite, airy quality to the plant. Furthermore, the foliage offers seasonal drama, transitioning to incredible shades of orange and red as temperatures cool in autumn, providing a spectacular final flourish before winter dormancy.

This elegant maple typically forms a multi-stemmed, broadly rounded shrub or small tree. It develops a graceful, layered canopy over time, making it a superb focal point in a garden. Its slow growth rate ensures it remains a manageable size, making it ideal for various garden uses. For example, it looks splendid as a standalone specimen plant, where its form and colour can be fully appreciated. Conversely, it integrates beautifully into mixed borders, providing bright contrast against darker green foliage plants. Its compact nature also makes it an excellent choice for planting in large containers on patios or balconies, bringing its beauty closer to the home.

While Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ does produce small, reddish flowers in spring, they are generally quite inconspicuous and do not contribute significantly to its ornamental appeal. Instead, the focus remains firmly on its stunning leaf display. This Golden Full Moon Maple does not particularly attract a wide array of wildlife for nectar, but its dense canopy offers shelter and nesting opportunities for small birds.

Pruning for this Acer is generally minimal. You should only remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches to maintain a healthy structure. Perform any necessary shaping during late summer or early autumn to avoid the plant ‘bleeding’ sap, which can occur if pruned in spring. By following these simple guidelines, you can ensure your Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ remains a striking and healthy addition to your UK garden for many years.