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Acer truncatum

Phonetic Spelling
AY-ser trunk-AH-tum
Description

Shangtung maple is a deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) native to China. The genus name means maple in Latin. Specific epithet means cut off square in reference to the square base of the leaves.

It is heat and drought-tolerant once established and grows in average well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. It will grow 20-25 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide with a dense rounded crown.

The flowers occur in spring and are not ornamentally significant. Leaves are 5-lobed and have excellent fall colors in yellow, orange and red.  

The size of this tree makes it a good shade tree for smaller yards or as a street tree under utilty lines.  Use it as a specimen in an Asian-themed garden.  It attracts moth larvae making it an excellent addition to a pollinator or nighttime garden.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems. 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:
  • 'Fire Dragon'
  • Norwegian Sunset
'Fire Dragon', Norwegian Sunset
Tags:
#hardy#deciduous#small tree#shade tree#full sun tolerant#small spaces#drought tolerant#specimen#orange leaves#yellow flowers#red leaves#fall interest#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#Asian garden#larval host plant#deciduous tree#fall color yellow#fall color red#fall color orange#imperial moth#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Fire Dragon'
  • Norwegian Sunset
'Fire Dragon', Norwegian Sunset
Tags:
#hardy#deciduous#small tree#shade tree#full sun tolerant#small spaces#drought tolerant#specimen#orange leaves#yellow flowers#red leaves#fall interest#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#Asian garden#larval host plant#deciduous tree#fall color yellow#fall color red#fall color orange#imperial moth#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Acer
    Species:
    truncatum
    Family:
    Sapindaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Small landscape tree or street tree. Specimen around the home for patios and small areas.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Northern China, Manchuria, 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):
    Extremely drought tolerant but both drought and heat tolerant when established.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Erect
    Rounded
    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 pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Samara
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Winged double samara to 1.5 inches forming an angle of about 90 degrees.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    Greenish-yellow flowers in clusters in April/May
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Palmasect
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    3 to 5 in. opposite, simple leaves with 5 lobes and 2 spurs on the basal lobes point to petiole base. Yellow, orange, and red fall color. Leaf stems bleed a milky sap if broken.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Fissured
    Ridges
    Bark Description:
    Often tinged in purple when young. Older branches assume a gray-brown color. Mature trunks are rough and fissured.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Buds:
    Smooth/Hairless
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Lenticels:
    Not Conspicuous
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Moderate, lustrous, reddish brown, glabrous, slightly lenticelled. Leaf scars meet at a point.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Small Space
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Small Tree
    Specimen
    Street Tree
    Understory Tree
    Attracts:
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Heat