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Acer triflorum is often confused with:
Acer griseum Young tree form.
Acer maximowiczianum Acer maximowiczianum habit
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Acer maximowiczianum Acer maximowiczianum habit
Acer pensylvanicum Form
Acer saccharum subsp. leucoderme  Acer leucoderme
Acer triflorum has some common insect problems:
Common Insect Pests of Maple in North Carolina
Acer triflorum has some common disease problems:
Common Disease Pests of Maple in North Carolina

Three-Flower Maple Acer triflorum

Phonetic Spelling
AY-ser try-FLOR-um
Description

Three flower maple is a deciduous tree in the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family 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:
Tags:
#deciduous#small tree#shade tree#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#interesting bark#specimen#orange leaves#pink flowers#purple leaves#yellow flowers#shade garden#winter interest#understory tree#easy to transplant#pest resistant#transplant#gold leaves#scarlet leaves#nighttime garden#acidic soils tolerant#pollinator plant#larval host plant#deciduous tree#clay soils tolerant#woodland garden#imperial moth#wet soils intolerant#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#small tree#shade tree#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#interesting bark#specimen#orange leaves#pink flowers#purple leaves#yellow flowers#shade garden#winter interest#understory tree#easy to transplant#pest resistant#transplant#gold leaves#scarlet leaves#nighttime garden#acidic soils tolerant#pollinator plant#larval host plant#deciduous tree#clay soils tolerant#woodland garden#imperial moth#wet soils intolerant#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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