About Acer pseudosieboldianum (Pax) Kom.
Acer pseudosieboldianum (Pax) Kom. is a deciduous small tree or shrub. It grows about 12 to 18 inches per year, reaching 15 to 25 feet tall at maturity. Its leaves are 4 to 6 inches wide, usually with 9 to 11 lobes. The green leaves turn shades of red, yellow, and orange in fall. This species exhibits marcescence, meaning it tends to retain a portion of its dried leaves through the winter. Its flowers are white with purple bracts. New growth is coated in white, sticky hairs, a trait that distinguishes this plant from the similar Acer sieboldianum, which lacks these hairs. The bark is thin and easily damaged by mechanical injury or harsh weather. Bark tears leave the plant vulnerable to insect and fungal infestation. When stressed, the species is susceptible to canker and Verticillium wilt. This species, called the Korean maple, is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It withstands cold climates better than the comparable Japanese maple. It has been grown in North Dakota, where it has done well in temperatures as low as −43 °F. This species has been hybridized with Japanese maple at the University of Wisconsin to produce a cold hardy tree with intermediate characteristics between the two parents. The hybrid is named Acer pseudosieboldianum × palmatum 'Hasselkus' and marketed under the trade name Northern Glow®.
