Emmett's Pumpkin Full Moon Japanese Maple

‘Emmett’s Pumpkin’ is a deciduous fullmoon maple valued for oversized, deeply lobed leaves that flush reddish orange over pale green, mature to green, and turn pumpkin orange with red in autumn. It forms an upright-to-spreading small tree, with nursery references giving roughly 10–15 feet tall and 10–12 feet wide; use it as a focal plant where it has room and shelter. ## Form and seasonal interest Large, rounded leaf blades give the canopy a bold texture through summer. The spring flush is reddish orange over light green, then the leaves become a more uniform green; in fall they turn deep orange, sometimes flashing red. The small reddish-purple spring flowers are inconspicuous, so foliage is the main ornamental display ([SiteOne cultivar specifications](https://www.siteone.com/en/92062b-acer-japonicum-emmetts-pumpkin-full-moon-japanese-maple/p/785652); [Loen Nursery](https://www.loennursery.com/products/acr-jp-emp)). Color intensity varies with site and season. ## Placement and growing conditions Use it as a specimen in a small garden, courtyard, or sheltered woodland edge, allowing for a broad crown rather than treating it as a narrow accent. Published dimensions vary: [Mr. Maple](https://mrmaple.com/collections/japanese-maples-for-sale/products/buy-acer-japonicum-emmetts-pumpkin-full-moon-japanese-maple) estimates 12–15 feet after 20 years, while [Loen Nursery](https://www.loennursery.com/products/acr-jp-emp) lists 10–15 feet tall by 10–12 feet wide. Loen lists full sun to partial shade; [Kiefer Nursery](https://kiefernursery.com/product/acer-japonicum-emmetts-pumpkin/) recommends lightly dappled shade and cautions that leaves may scorch in full sun during hot summers. A sheltered position with morning sun or light shade is a practical choice in warm-summer regions. Provide moderate, consistent moisture in well-drained soil; Loen lists slightly acidic soil as preferred. Nursery hardiness listings range from Zones 5–8 to 5–9A, so local summer conditions matter as well as winter minimums. ## Cultivar identity The [Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania’s plant catalogue](https://www.morrisarboretum.org/pdf/PlantCatalogue-21-1.pdf) records a grafted ‘Emmett’s Pumpkin’ accession received from Conifer Kingdom & Rare Tree Nursery in 2014. That entry documents the accession’s source, not the cultivar’s breeder. The nursery and arboretum profiles reviewed do not identify an originator, branded series, or patent number. Mr. Maple currently lists the cultivar for sale; its page is a retail profile rather than a breeder attribution. ## Sources [Morris Arboretum plant catalogue](https://www.morrisarboretum.org/pdf/PlantCatalogue-21-1.pdf) · [Mr. Maple cultivar profile](https://mrmaple.com/collections/japanese-maples-for-sale/products/buy-acer-japonicum-emmetts-pumpkin-full-moon-japanese-maple) · [Loen Nursery plant profile](https://www.loennursery.com/products/acr-jp-emp) · [Kiefer Nursery plant profile](https://kiefernursery.com/product/acer-japonicum-emmetts-pumpkin/) · [SiteOne cultivar specifications](https://www.siteone.com/en/92062b-acer-japonicum-emmetts-pumpkin-full-moon-japanese-maple/p/785652) ## Maintenance Keep the root zone evenly moist during establishment and check it during prolonged dry weather; water before the soil dries out, without leaving it waterlogged. A layer of organic mulch helps moderate soil moisture, but keep it clear of the trunk. Protect the canopy from hot afternoon exposure and drying winds where summers are warm, since leaf scorch is reported under hot, sunny conditions. Prune selectively to remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches and preserve the natural outline. Routine care is moderate, with the greatest attention needed for moisture and siting.