STATE STREET™ Miyabe's maple | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Soapberry (formerly Maple)
Family (botanic) Sapindaceae (formerly Aceraceae)
Planting site City parkway, Residential and parks, Wide median
Tree or plant type Tree
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale Non-native
Size range Large tree (more than 40 feet)
Mature height 40-45 feet
Mature width 30-35 feet
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7
Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
Tolerances Alkaline soil, clay soil, Dry sites, Occasional drought, Wet sites
Season of interest early fall, mid fall
Flower color and fragrance Inconspicuous
Shape or form Oval, Round, Upright
Growth rate Fast
Transplants well Yes
Wildlife Birds, Insect pollinators
Has cultivars NA

Size and form:

STATE STREET™ Miyabe’s maple has a mature height of 40 to 45 feet and width of 30 to 35 feet with an oval, round, upright form. It is more densely branched than other maples which makes it an excellent shade tree.

Native geographic location and habitat:

It is a cultivated variety of a species native to Japan.

Attracts birds and pollinators:

It attracts insect pollinators.

Bark color and texture:

The handsome, corky bark develops vertical scales with age.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

The dark green, five-lobed, simple leaves are 3 to 5 inches long and arranged in pairs (opposite). They change to a pale golden-yellow in fall.

Flower description:

Inconspicuous flowers bloom in small clusters in spring.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

The fruit are winged seeds in pairs (samaras).

Plant care:

Plant in full sun to part shade with well drained soil. Although it is tolerant of most soil types, it does not do well in compacted soil. As with any newly planted tree, it should be watered properly when young, but is drought tolerant after established. Avoid pruning maples in spring as they are ‘bleeders’ and will lose large amounts of sap.