Three-toothed Maple Acer buergerianum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser bur-jer-ee-AY-num
- Description
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Trident maple is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) that is native to Asia. Genus name is the Latin name for a maple tree. The species name honors Heinrich Buerger, 19th-century German botanist.
This tree has a rounded branching form and grows 25- 35 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide. Its preference is for full sun and average well-drained acidic soils; however, it is tolerant of a range of soil moistures and textures. It is also tolerant of wind, salt, drought, air pollution, and soil compaction. Trident maple has a slow to medium growth rate and is easy to transplant. Propagation is by seed.
The leaves have three forward-facing lobes resembling a trident. This tree tends to grow as a multi-stemmed, low-branching specimen, but it can be pruned to a single stem. The exfoliating bark reveals an orange-brown inner bark, which adds interest. The fall color can be variable, sometimes yellows but usually reds and oranges.
It is frequently used in bonsai. Other uses can be as a street tree or a shade tree for smaller spaces.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Verticillium wilt is a potential problem for maples. It may suffer limb breakage with snow or ice.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Bonsai Garden in Davidson County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Aeryn'
- 'Kifu Nishiki'
Rounder leaves - 'Michael Steinhart'
Young leaves are golden in a trident shape - 'Mino Yatabusa'
Dwarf with long narrow leaves - 'Mitsubato Kaede'
Cork-like trunk - 'Miyasama yatsubusa'
Variegated leaves - 'Naputo Kaede'
- 'Nokoribo'
- 'Streetwise'
Red fall color, single trunk, exfoliates at a younger age - 'Valynor' or 'ABFSS'
- 'Aeryn'
- 'Aeryn', 'Kifu Nishiki', 'Michael Steinhart', 'Mino Yatabusa', 'Mitsubato Kaede', 'Miyasama yatsubusa', 'Naputo Kaede', 'Nokoribo', 'Streetwise', 'Valynor' or 'ABFSS'
- Tags:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aeryn'
- 'Kifu Nishiki'
Rounder leaves - 'Michael Steinhart'
Young leaves are golden in a trident shape - 'Mino Yatabusa'
Dwarf with long narrow leaves - 'Mitsubato Kaede'
Cork-like trunk - 'Miyasama yatsubusa'
Variegated leaves - 'Naputo Kaede'
- 'Nokoribo'
- 'Streetwise'
Red fall color, single trunk, exfoliates at a younger age - 'Valynor' or 'ABFSS'
- 'Aeryn'
- 'Aeryn', 'Kifu Nishiki', 'Michael Steinhart', 'Mino Yatabusa', 'Mitsubato Kaede', 'Miyasama yatsubusa', 'Naputo Kaede', 'Nokoribo', 'Streetwise', 'Valynor' or 'ABFSS'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- buergerianum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern China, Japan, Korea
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 25 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 1 inch long samaras in pairs in the fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Blooms in spring with small greenish-yellow flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1.5 to 3.5-inch leaves are simple and opposite with 3 triangular lobes that point forward, resembling a trident. Leaf base is rounded. Fall color is variable but usually reds and oranges. Color changes later than most maples.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Orange
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Peeling
- Bark Description:
- Exfoliating gray bark develops on mature trunks and reveals an orange-brown inner bark. Adds winter interest.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are slender, flexible and reddish-brown. They have gray hairs. The buds are sharp-pointed.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Pollution
- Salt
- Wind
- Problems:
- Weak Wood
