Jose Teixeira
Faculty Bio: Jose Teixeira is a staff member on the Moses Brown Maintenance and Grounds crew. After living in Portugal for the first 15 years of his life, he moved to the United States. Jose’s father also worked at Moses Brown, and in 1986, when Jose was 21 years old, he came to work at the school with his father. Jose sees his tree as a testament to the passage of time, and it reminds him of the many years he has spent at Moses Brown. An avid soccer fan, Jose enjoys maintaining the school’s playing fields and watching the Moses Brown high school team compete.
Tree Information: Jose’s tree, a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), was planted in 2016 near the Eastern Lloyd Avenue entrance to the school. In the fall, its vibrant red leaves stand out as commuters drive up the hill.
Common Name: Japanese maple
Type: Tree
Family: Sapindaceae
Native Range: Korea, Japan
Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 10.00 to 25.00 feet
Spread: 10.00 to 25.00 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Description: Reddish-purple
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Insignificant
Leaf: Good Fall
Tolerate: Rabbit, Black Walnut
Invasive: Where is this species invasive in the US?
Culture
Best grown in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Grows well in sandy loams. May be grown in full sun in the northern parts of its growing range, but prefers some part afternoon shade in the southern parts (including St. Louis) of its growing range. New foliage may scorch in full sun locations in hot summers areas, particularly if soils are not kept consistently moist. Mulch helps retain soil moisture and keep roots cool. Site in locations protected from strong winds. Avoid hot and dry sites. Fertilize in spring before leaves emerge. Pruning is best kept to a minimum, but if needed should be done in late fall to mid winter. Spring or summer pruning often results in significant bleeding.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Acer palmatum, commonly called Japanese maple, is a deciduous shrub or small tree that typically grows to 10-25' (infrequently to 40') tall. It is native to Japan, Korea and China. General plant form is rounded to broad-rounded, often with low branching. Each palmate green leaf (2-5" long) has 5 or 7 but less frequently 9 pointed toothed lobes. Small reddish-purple flowers in umbels bloom in mid spring (April). The flowers are rather attractive close up, but are not particularly showy from a distance. Flowers are followed by samaras (to 3/4" long) in pairs. Samaras ripen in September-October. Fall color includes shades of yellow, red-purple and bronze. Cultivars (often grafted) are quite variable.
Genus name is the Latin name for a maple tree.
Specific epithet is in reference to the palmate nature of the leaves. Each leaf has several lobes (typically 5–7) that all originate from one point looking like an open hand with outstretched fingers.