PSC 2620: Woody Trees and ShrubCourse HomeWeek 6

Acer truncatum - Purpleblow or Shantung Maple

Plant Viewer
The glossy leaves have 5 triangular lobes and a smooth margin. Young bark has a purplish overcast, while mature bark is gray-brown with ridges and furrows.

Plant Description

Acer truncatum, Purpleblow or Shantung Maple, is a small maple that grows 20-25 feet tall. It could be considered an ornamental tree because of its attractive leaf and good fall color. It is more often used in a much more utilitarian manner as a lawn tree or street tree. It is an attractive tree, with a rounded form, dense canopy and a regular branching habit. It is hardy and drought tolerant, adapting to many different types of soil and climate conditions.

Young bark has a purplish overcast to it, from which the common name is derived. As the bark matures it develops a gray-brown color and the bark develops and ridged and furrowed appearance.

The leaf is 3 to 5 inches wide with five lobes and a smooth margin. Each lobe has a triangular shape, creating a very clean and symmetrical looking leaf. The leaf is an attractive dark green in color. Leaves are arranged oppositely on the stem. The fall color is a lovely mixture of yellows, oranges and reds The samaras are 1 1/4 inches long, green in color and the wings hang at a 90 degree angle.

Landscape Use

Its compact size makes it a good selection as an ornamental, street or lawn tree.

Points of interest

The actual species is difficult to come by as it is not readily available. When I enquired as to the reason for this, several growers in the Northwest told me that the tree grew too vigorously in their mild climate and became gangly.

Notable Cultivars

Pacific Sunset A hybrid with Acer platanoides, this is the most popular form of Purpleblow Maple. It has an upright form with a fine branching pattern. Grows to reach 30 feet tall. Unfortunately the leaves are much closer to Acer platanoides instead of Acer truncatum.


Norwegian Sunset Also a hybrid with Acer platanoides, it grows to be 35 feet tall. It has an upright form with a good branching habit.