Purple Blow Maple Acer truncatum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser trunk-AH-tum
- Description
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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:
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- 'Fire Dragon'
- Norwegian Sunset
- 'Fire Dragon'
- 'Fire Dragon', Norwegian Sunset
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Fire Dragon'
- Norwegian Sunset
- 'Fire Dragon'
- 'Fire Dragon', Norwegian Sunset
- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
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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.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Greenish-yellow flowers in clusters in April/May
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
