Amur Maple Acer tataricum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Amur Maple:
Previously known as:
- Acer cordifolium
- Euacer tataricum
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser tat-TAR-ee-kum
- Description
-
Amur maple is a deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) native to forested areas from western Asia to southeastern Europe. A small multi-trunk tree, with and upright dense, rounded crown that matures over time to a 15 - 20' tall tree or multi-stemmed shrub.
The leaves are unlobed, broad-ovate, medium green (to 4” long) with irregular doubly serrate margins found on mature trees. Leaves on young trees are often 3 lobed. Leaves turn yellow and red in the fall. Insignificant greenish-white flowers bloom in spring. Flowers are followed by winged samaras (to 1” long) that turn a showy red in summer/fall as they mature.
Tolerant of a range of conditions.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Verticillium wilt, stem canker, leaf spots, tar spot and anthracnose may appear. Watch for aphids, borers, scale, leafhoppers, caterpillars and mites. Plants have escaped cultivation and naturalized by self-seeding in certain parts of the eastern U.S. See potential insect and disease problem fact sheets to the left.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- tataricum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Forest undergrowth
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western Asia to southeastern Europe
- 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.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Some tolerance for drought.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-trunked
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Parallel samara, 3/4 - 1" long, red turning brown.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Greenish white appearing with the leaves in April to May. Borne in upright 2 - 3 in. long and wide panicles.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, simple, 2-4" long, irregularly doubly serrated, medium bright green above. Petiole is 1-2" long. Leaves are lobed with the bottom two lobes most prominent.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark is thin, pale brown, and smooth at first but becoming shallowly fissured on old plants.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Imbricate, reddish/brownish to black, 1/8 - 1/4" long. Reddish-brown to brown, with many lenticels.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
