The leaves are mid to dark green,  long and  broad with a  petiole, and palmately lobed with nine to eleven (occasionally just seven) lobes. The young leaves in spring are downy with white hairs, with the petiole and veins on the underside of the leaf remaining hairy all summer, a feature useful in distinguishing it from the related Acer palmatum.
The leaves are mid to dark green, long and broad with a petiole, and palmately lobed with nine to eleven (occasionally just seven) lobes. The young spring leaves have soft white hairs that remain on the underside of the leaf throughout summer, which can help distinguish this species from Acer palmatum.