Plant DetailShow Menu

Similar but less problematic plants:
Acer buergerianum Acer buergerianum tree
Native alternative(s) for Acer tataricum:
Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum Form
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Acer capillipes Acer capillipes
Acer glabrum Acer glabrum var. diffusum
Acer griseum Young tree form.
Acer tataricum has some common insect problems:
Common Insect Pests of Maple in North Carolina
Acer tataricum has some common disease problems:
Common Disease Pests of Maple in North Carolina

Tatarian Maple Acer tataricum

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Acer cordifolium
  • Euacer tataricum
Phonetic Spelling
AY-ser tat-TAR-ee-kum
Description

Amur maple is a deciduous tree Sapindaceae (soapberry) family 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:
#small tree#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#fantz#multitrunked#larval host plant#imperial moth#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#small tree#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#fantz#multitrunked#larval host plant#imperial moth#wildlife friendly
  • 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