Three-Flower Maple Acer triflorum
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser try-FLOR-um
- Description
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Three flower maple is a deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) that is not readily available due to difficulty in propagation. It is native to hills of northeastern China and Korea.
Tolerant of any type of light, it prefers acidic, moist but well-drained soil. Very easy to transplant.
Sporting a rounded and compact form when grown in full sun but upright and spreading when grown in shade. It casts moderate to dense shade and is frequently grown as an understory tree.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Intolerant of alkaline soils, soil compaction, and wet soil. See potential insect and disease problem fact sheets to the left.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- triflorum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia
- Distribution:
- Manchuria China, North and South 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.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought and clay soil tolerant; no serious pest problems; easy to transplant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Samaras 1" long joined at a wide angle with a fat nutlet persists into winter
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Pink to greenish yellow cluster of 3 (hence the common name) flowers in April.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Sinuate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green somewhat fuzzy trifoliate leaf 3" long 1" wide with irregularly toothed margins; brilliant orange, scarlet, purple and gold fall color in October; one of the few trees to develop good fall color in shade.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Peeling
- Bark Description:
- This plant has warm, ashy light brown bark, peeling in long strips bark, to reveal cinnamon orange-brown (or cinnamon red) inner bark even at an early age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Insect Pests
- Salt
