Amur maple is a deciduous small tree or large shrub in the maple family (Sapindaceae) native to Asia that prefers cool summer climates and is one of the hardier maples. The shape is variable from multi-stemmed to single trunked and rounded to open crown and can be successfully tailored to specific landscape requirements by pruning. Its mature height is 15 to 20 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. The leaves have a distinctive 3-lobed pattern with the central lobe being elongated. Fall color is red to orange. While it technically is hardy from zones 3-8, it will perform best in zones 3-6. Plant in full sun to light shade in a range of soil types. It is quite adaptable to a wide range of pH ranges but does best in well-drained soil. Tolerant of wind, dry soil, and drought. It withstands heavy pruning and can be successfully grown as a container plant. Easy to transplant and casts dense shade. Because of its dense shade characteristics, it can suppress the growth of native shrubs, herbaceous plants and grasses. Also, it will take advantage of any gaps that open up in the canopy. This smaller maple can be used as small specimen, or patio tree and even works well in a container. With its dense foliage it can be used for screening or mass plantings on blank walls of large buildings. The Flame cultivar is a large shrub with flaming fall color that can be planted in above ground containers. It is also used in Bonsai. Quick ID Hints: Opposite leaves Distinct red petioles Excellent yellow and/or red fall color Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is listed as invasive in some states in the midwestern and northeastern U.S.A. Please see suggested native trees to plant instead. See potential disease and insect 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. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee . More information on Acer tataricum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | 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; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Open; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate; Palmasect
Leaf margin
Lobed; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2-4 by 1-2 inches green leaves with 3 lobes, the central one being elongated. Margins are doubly serrated. The central lobe is elongated. Fall color red to orange.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Panicle
Flower detail
Spring flowers in panicles
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Up to 1 inch paired reddish samara in summer to autumn
Bark color
Dark Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
The bark is thin, dull gray-brown, and smooth becoming shallowly fissured with age.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Glabrous, slender, gray brown in color on branches. Gray, rougher and striped on older branches.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central and northern China, Manchuria and Japan
Distribution
NW and central USA
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. Birds and butterflies are attracted to this tree.