I saw this maple in fairly significant shade in a display garden at a nursery this past summer. If it is an Aureum I am thinking the colour is a bit dull due to these shade conditions.
I don't believe it is A. shirasawanum 'Aureum'--if that's the 'Aureum' you're referring to. It has more (11?) shallowly separated lobes.
Could it be Acer palmatum "Aureum?" I know there is one, I just don't know much about it other than it is quite different from Acer shirasawanum "Aureum."
It is not the palmatum 'Aureum' either. Leaves look too large with too many lobes. One plant it reminded me of was shirasawanum 'Jordan', which I think is pale green in shade rather than the normal yellow, (but that is just speculation, not a positive ID).
My guess is Acer shirasawanum 'Moonrise' in late spring to summer color. The bark on the trunk and the growth habit of the branches along with the placement of the leaves on the branches (strong upright V placement off of the branch with greater distance between leaf pairs) strikes me as Acer shirasawanum.
Before asking, people should verify whether or not a given mystery maple is a grafted selection or a seedling. Gomero
It could be grown from a cutting… I think if they had the opportunity to learn the history of the tree, they would have found out the name.
Yes that is correct. My wife had taken this photo and I came across it just recently while sorting through the picture files on the computer. We know nothing of the background of this particular JM and I thought I would just post it and see what people thought. (As I had mentioned I will find out for sure who's who next spring).
The color of the petioles does not look like my Aureum. But it is a handsome tree, which is more important than the name, in my book. :)
FWIW here are some pictures of 'Moonrise' from this forum. http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=31333
I agree it looks pretty close to my 'Moonrise' just a little greener which would make sence if it is mostly shaded.