Acer platanoides
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser pla-tan-OY-dees
- Description
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Shallow roots make it difficult to grow plants underneath; easy to transplant; tolerates air pollution and city conditions; sensitive to 2 4-D herbicide; there are plant improved cultivars. Learn more about "Acer platanoides 'Stand Fast'"
An easy growing excellent shade or street tree that tolerates heat, drought, urban conditions and pollution. It has a symmetrical, rounded crown and has been used widely as a tree in urban areas of the United States though it is not recommended for many areas now. Prefers full sun to partial shade, a wide range of soils but must be well trained and maintain a medium moisture level. It freely reseeds itself, so be aware you may be pulling up seedlings. Cultivars may offer the best choice for landscaping. It is noted that this species should be given considerable room, as it covers large areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Susceptible to verticillium wilt. Young tree bark may suffer from sun-scald or frost damage. Its canopy is dense and it has shallow roots which make it very challenging to grown anything under the drip line of the tree. It can be especially bothersome planted near grass, sidewalks or walkways.
Quick ID Hints:
- opposite
- 5-lobed with sharp points
- hairs in axils of veins
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- platanoides
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northeastern Europe
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Pieces Used in Games
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 1.5"-2" long horizontally spreading wings mature September to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Not remarkable, appear in spring before the foliage. One of most floriferous maples.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 7" across, with 5 sharply pointed lobes that look similar to a sugar maple. Petioles exude milky sap when broken. Fall color is an unremarkable yellow.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Messy
- Weedy
- Acer platanoides is often confused with:
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Acer campestre
- Acer platanoides 'Stand Fast'
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Acer rubrum
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Acer saccharum
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
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Quercus phellos
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Acer rubrum
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Tilia americana
