PSC 2620: Woody Trees and ShrubCourse HomeWeek 4

Acer ginnala - Amur Maple

Plant Viewer
The central lobe of the leaf is elongated and the petioles are bright red. Fall color is red.
Samaras are plentiful on the tree and the wings of the samaras are reddish in color. Image: Wikipedia.org Acer ginnala is typically found in multi-stem form.

Plant Description

Acer ginnala is a small tree (15-20 feet tall, with a similar or wider spread), which naturally grows in a multi-stemmed form. If left unpruned, it may develop a form more reminiscent of a large shrub. The bark of Amur Maple is smooth, and gray-brown with light vertical stripes forming on mature stems.

The leaves are 1.5 to 3 inches long and a mild green color with bright red petioles. The leaf shape is very recognizable with three lobes, the central lobe being much longer and wider than the two lobes on either side and the margin of the leaf is serrated irregularly.

The fruit of Acer ginnala, known as a samaras, appears in early summer and is retained into fall. The wings of samaras are typically red or rusty brown color in summer, and the samaras will fade to a brown by the end of fall. The samaras are nearly parallel in arrangement, hang in clusters and can be quite profuse on the tree. Preceding the samaras are small, insignificant white panicles of flowers with a mild scent.

Amur Maple is extremely cold hardy and performs best in areas with mild summers and cold winters. It is tolerant of most soil types and moisture conditions.

Landscape Use

The small size and multiple-trunk form makes the Amur Maple an excellent accent tree. It is especially beautiful when under lit with lighting.

Points of interest

It is particularly susceptible to developing iron chlorosis and, if the plant is chlorotic, can develop leaf burn when planted in full sun.

Notable Cultivars

Flame Famous for its consistent production of deep and vibrant red fall color. The samaras have red wings, giving this variety some added color interest throughout the summer.