Ivy-Leaved Maple (Acer Cissifolium)

Features and Characteristics

Acer cissifolium commonly called ivy-leaved maple or ash-leaved maple, is native to mountainous areas of Japan. It is a small, deciduous tree that typically grows to 20-30’ tall. Initial growth is upright oval, but with age this tree typically develops a wide-spreading, globose form. As the common names suggests, this maple is perhaps best noted for its compound trifoliate leaves that resemble in appearance those of some ashes and ivies. Obovate to ovate, serrate leaflets (each to 4” long) are olive to medium green. Young stems are reddish-purple. Small fragrant yellow flowers bloom in pendant racemes (to 4” long) in spring. Flowers are followed by winged samaras (to 1” long). Smooth gray bark. Variable yellow to orange to red fall color.

Genus name is the Latin name for a maple tree.

Specific epithet refers to the similarity of the trifoliate leaves of this tree to the leaves of some vines in the genus Cissus.