Colour in successive chapters
Bright red spring growth becomes fresh yellow-green in summer and turns orange and red in autumn.
5
Acer 'Moonrise'® 19cm
Normal price
€45,00
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Acer shirasawanum Moonrise® (‘MUNN 001’)
Colour that changes with the seasons: red → yellow-green → orange → red 🍁
- Bright red spring growth
- Almost circular lobed leaves
- Compact rounded crown
- Orange-red autumn colour
Acer shirasawanum Moonrise® (‘MUNN 001’) opens spring like a little sunrise, its young red leaves lighting a crown that gradually softens to yellow-green. The almost circular blades, edged with many pointed lobes, spread like small fans and let light filter between them. In autumn, orange and red return, giving the same quietly rounded silhouette a warm, luminous final appearance before the leaves fall.
Against a dark hedge or beside simple stone, the luminous crown takes on the presence of a small living sculpture. It suits sheltered courtyards and spacious terraces where the changing leaves can be enjoyed at close range and its natural branching has room to show.
What makes it special
Three substantial qualities explain why ‘Moonrise’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.
Foliage that rewards a closer look
Broad almost circular lobed leaves create a calm surface that makes seasonal colour changes especially clear.
A silhouette with design value
The compact rounded line brings a complete presence at a restrained scale.
Why you will love it: A true colour calendar: red, yellow-green, orange and back to red.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A focal point in sheltered bright partial shade, with enough open space to appreciate its loosely rounded compact crown
A luminous rounded crown
Place it beside a sheltered seating area against a dark background, where its broad leaves and loosely rounded crown remain clearly visible. Leave open space around the lateral branches: this cultivar continues to spread as it grows.
Avoid squeezing it between walls and other trees. Its initially compact appearance does not mean it will remain permanently small. In a pot choose a stable base, free drainage and a position where the roots are protected from overheating.
Combinations that work
The red, yellow-green and orange palette of ‘Moonrise’ becomes clearer beside black bases, orange-red ferns and white margins. All three choices suit bright partial shade and organic soil with even moisture and good drainage, creating clean layers around the Acer’s natural form.
- Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ — Almost black foliage provides a strong contrast to lime green without competing with the crown.
- Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’ — Orange-red young fronds repeat the warm spring colours with a feathery texture.
- Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’ — Pale stripes keep the front edge bright after the maple loses its leaves.
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or morning sun, sheltered from fierce midday sun and drying winds.
Watering
Water thoroughly when the upper layer begins to dry, maintaining even moisture without waterlogging; check pots more frequently in hot weather.
Climate & hardiness
Deciduous and hardy in winter cold; fresh growth benefits from shelter against late frost, hot dry air and extreme summer exposure.
Safety
An ornamental plant, not food. It is not intended for consumption; place it away from children or animals that tend to chew plant material.
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, microclimate, ground planting, pots, growing medium, watering, feeding, pruning and the winter cycle
Light & microclimate
Bright partial shade or morning sun, sheltered from fierce midday sun and drying winds.
Planting in the ground
Plant in fertile, organic, acid to neutral soil that retains moisture yet drains freely. Keep the root collar level with the surrounding soil and allow the natural crown the space indicated by its mature habit.
Growing in a pot
Use a roomy, stable outdoor pot with unobstructed drainage holes and a structured growing medium that resists compaction. It can grow for years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. Check the available root space periodically and move to a larger pot when needed; pot-grown size depends on root space and care.
Watering & cool roots
Water thoroughly when the upper layer begins to dry, maintaining even moisture without waterlogging; check pots more frequently in hot weather. An organic mulch helps buffer sudden changes in moisture and temperature.
Feeding & clean foliage
A light application of balanced fertiliser in early spring is usually sufficient. Avoid excessive nitrogen and late feeding, which encourage soft new growth.
Pruning & the winter cycle
Pruning is rarely necessary. Remove only dead, damaged or awkwardly crossing branches after leaf fall and before midwinter. A bare crown in winter is entirely normal.
Development over timeFrom a young Acer to a rounded crownCareful establishment gradually gives way to characteristic natural branching and increasingly rich seasonal changes.
First establishment
After planting, new growth may be restrained while the root system settles. Even moisture and a sheltered microclimate matter more than rapid extension.
The natural habit becomes clear
As the main shoots branch, the plant gradually develops a loosely rounded compact crown. Its natural line is most attractive when it is not clipped into a rigid shape.
A mature seasonal rhythm
With maturity it repeats its distinctive colour cycle each year: bright red in spring, yellow-green in summer and orange-red in autumn, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature form & dimensions
Recorded at 17 years; growth continuesHeight 4 m+Spread 3.5 m+Loosely rounded compact crown
The original tree measured 4 m high and 3.5 m wide at 17 years. These are observed dimensions, not an ultimate limit. Upright branches gradually form a broad, rounded crown.
Form through time
Deciduous
Red spring growthBroad young leaves open in warm red shades.
WinterThe same branching after leaf fall
The leaves fall naturally in autumn. Winter reveals the woody framework that will support new growth the following spring.
What to expect after planting: Root establishment comes first; canopy extension may be uneven during the initial season. Leave room for the lateral branches to develop, because the compact young plant gradually becomes a broad tree.
History & origin Cultivar origin From an Oregon seedling to the selection MUNN 001
Carl A. Munn selected a chance seedling of Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ in Brooks, Oregon, with red new growth and golden-yellow to yellow-green mature leaves. Graft propagation preserved the selection’s characteristics.
The application for ‘MUNN 001’, marketed as Moonrise®, was filed on 19 July 2004. USPP16718 was granted on 27 June 2006. The original plant was already 17 years old when observed in 2004.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Many lobes, one leaf
In Acer shirasawanum ‘Moonrise’, the almost circular blade usually has seven to eleven lobes. The incisions stop before the base, leaving one continuous leaf with radiating veins and a finely toothed outline.
Samaras above the leaves
In Acer shirasawanum, the fruits form upright clusters above the foliage. Each pair consists of two samaras, each carrying a seed and a thin wing. Their upright position helps distinguish the species from other Japanese maples.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers covering light, seasonal colour, pots, mature size, pruning and winter leaf fall.
01How much sun will it tolerate in Greece?
Bright partial shade or morning sun, sheltered from fierce midday sun and drying winds. A sheltered microclimate matters just as much as the number of hours of light.
02Why do the red spring leaves turn green?
The change from red to yellow-green is natural and expected; later flushes may introduce warm colour again.
03Can I keep Moonrise in a large pot?
It can grow for years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. Check the available root space periodically and move to a larger pot when needed; pot-grown size depends on root space and care.
04Does Moonrise remain a dwarf?
It is not permanently dwarf. The original tree measured 4 m high and 3.5 m wide at 17 years and was still growing. Leave generous space around it when planting in the ground.
05Does it need pruning to hold its shape?
Usually not; its natural architecture is central to its beauty. If cleaning is needed, work after leaf fall and before midwinter, removing only what is necessary.
06Is it normal for the tree to be bare in winter?
Yes. It is deciduous and sheds its leaves in autumn after completing its colour cycle. Fresh growth returns in spring.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.