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Shangtung Maple Acer truncatum

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
AY-ser trunk-AH-tum
Description

Shangtung maple is a deciduous tree in the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family 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:
  • '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