Shangtung 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 that grows to 20-25 feet tall. The genus Acer means maple in Latin.
It is heat and drought tolerant once established and grows in average well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. 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
