Content Detail

This Chicagoland Grows® introduction has shown excellent heat, drought, and alkaline soil tolerance. STATE STREET™ Miyabe’s maple has thick, five-lobed, attractive, medium to dark green leaves that remain long into fall, then rapidly change to a pale golden-yellow fall color. It is more branched than other maple varieties which makes it a great shade tree.

  • 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.

List of pests, diseases and tolerances:

It has an excellent heat and drought tolerance, as well as tolerance of alkaline soils and salt spray.

Donate

Your support is vital to the Arboretum, where the power of trees makes a positive impact on people’s lives.

Make a gift