Korean Maple is an upright, deciduous small tree or large shrub native to forested areas of Korea and China, hardy in zones 3 to 8 and growing 10 to 20 feet tall with a similar spread. Its deeply lobed leaves, featuring 9 to 11 doubly serrate lobes, transform from medium to dark green in summer to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red in fall. Purple flowers appear in spring, followed by decorative winged samaras, and the tree performs well in full sun to part shade, thriving in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils. This is a landscape tree that brings year-round interest, from spring color to autumn drama.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-8
240in H x 240in W
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High
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The fall color show alone makes Korean Maple worth the space in a larger garden; those deep oranges and reds rival Japanese maples while the tree grows substantially larger. Its upright habit suits it to street tree duty or as a shade provider without consuming excessive width, and the purple spring flowers and winged seed pods offer subtle season-long interest beyond the foliage display. The tree is relatively low-maintenance once established and shows no serious insect or disease problems, though proper siting protects it from stress.
Korean Maple serves as a shade tree and street tree, valued for its refined upright structure and four-season ornamental interest. Its moderate mature size makes it suitable for gardens where a full-sized shade tree is needed but space is not unlimited, and its tolerance of sun-dappled locations allows placement in varied landscape settings.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Prune to maintain the upright, naturally graceful form of the tree. Remove any crossing or damaged branches, and thin the crown lightly if needed to improve light penetration and air circulation. Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring before growth begins.
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“Acer pseudosieboldianum originates from the forested regions of Korea and China, where it evolved as a woodland understory species. The cultivar 'NORTHERN SPOTLIGHT' was developed to extend the range and hardiness of Korean maple for northern gardeners, bringing cold tolerance into zones 3 and 4 while maintaining the species' elegant form and autumn brilliance.”