Tree of the Week: Maple of the Night

A true creature of the night, this Japanese maple dwells just outside the rear exit to Scholz 1. Although, during the day, this slightly stunted tree is outshined by its taller, more “conventionally attractive” neighbors, this little star awakens after dusk under the warm spotlight of the nearby sidewalk lamp. Some residents even claim that on wilder nights, the tree serves as a companion: a friendly face with many eyes among its golden branches.

The coral bark Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), otherwise known as Sango kaku, is a palmate maple known for its fall coloring. It is naturally native to Japan, China, Korea, Mongolia, and southeast Russia.