150 Page Street at Moreland Terrace: Acer palmatum, Japanese maple

Carpinus caroliniana, American Hornbeam, Ironwood

What kind of tree looks as if it is flexing its biceps with it muscular smooth barked branches festooned with pendulous cut green leaves? It must be an one hundred year old Japanese maple. These trees are native to Japan, Korea, and China. Acer palmatum cultivars include small trees with graceful habits, elegantly cut leaves, and extraordinarily colorful autumn foliage in shades of golden-yellow, red, purple, and bronze. Mature trees have multi-layered branching structure from single or multiple trunks reaching 25 feet in height and width. Acer palmatum trees are slow growing and long lived.