The van Gelderen maple texts indicate A. japonicum 'Kinakure' is synonymous with A. shirasawanum 'Aureum'.

Discussions have been ongoing for years regarding the similar morphology of these two taxa with the consensus being they are essentially the same species or at best, varietals of the same species. One often encounters various cultivars of A. japonicum that are labeled as shirasawanum and vice versa.

Hi-

Thanks for your response, gardengal.

It looks as if I might have bought what I thought it was. I was wondering because, in addition to the difference in name, the label said the leaves become dark green in summer. However, Wayside Gardens sells the shirasawanum Aureum and they say the leaves will become dark green in summer while the Sunset Western Garden Book says it holds it's yellow-green spring leaves all summer. Anyway, summer will tell the tale. I was expecting yellow-green summer leaves when I bought the tree.

It should hold its bright chartreuse green coloring through the summer. In fact, A.s. 'Aureum' is rather sensitive to direct sunlight in summer and those pale, yellow green leaves scorch easily if in excessive sunlight. All the trees I've encountered with this label have maintained this coloring without any darkening of the foliage.