Acer buergerianum Seeds | Trident Maple
LATIN NAME: Acer buergerianum
COMMON NAME: Trident Maple
Plant Profile
Trident maple is a deciduous tree of eastern China, Taiwan and Japan, growing nine to fifteen metres with a rounded crown and a short, often multi-stemmed trunk. The leaves are three-lobed, glossy and small, turning red and orange late in autumn.
The bark flakes in patches of orange, brown and grey as the tree ages, which is one of its best features in winter. It is one of the most adaptable maples, and it has been planted in cities for centuries because it tolerates cramped roots and poor air. The leaf stalks are short and often reddish, which sets off the green blade.
Science & Biotechnology
The species is a favourite subject in bonsai research, since it back-buds readily, tolerates root pruning and develops fine ramification faster than most maples. Work on urban trees has measured its tolerance of compacted soil, drought and air pollution, which is why it is widely specified for streets.
Its wood anatomy has also been studied for resistance to wind damage, and its seed biology has been examined because the species germinates readily without cold treatment in mild climates. Taxonomic work has looked at how the Chinese and Japanese populations differ in leaf shape.
Uses & Benefits
In Japan and China it is a street and garden tree, and in the West it is grown as a specimen for its autumn colour and its bark. It is one of the classic bonsai subjects, and it is also used for small carpentry and for tool handles.
Its tolerance of clipping makes it suitable for pleached screens and for large containers, and it is one of the few maples that will grow in a paved courtyard. In autumn the colour is reliable even in mild climates, which is not true of the Japanese maples.
The species is also one of the maples most often used for pleaching, since it takes clipping into a flat plane and holds its leaves late. In Japan it is planted around temples and in small courtyard gardens, where its fine branching and autumn colour are valued more than its size, and old specimens are often trained for a century.
Growing from Seed
Sow in autumn or stratify for ten weeks; fresh seed germinates well. Grow the seedling in a deep pot for two years, since the roots develop quickly.
Plant out in sun or light shade in any well-drained soil, and water in the first two summers. Prune in late winter if shaping is needed, and avoid rich feeding, which produces coarse growth and fewer autumn colours. In a pot, refresh the top layer of compost each spring and root-prune every three or four years, since the tree makes a dense mat of fine roots. Autumn colour is best on plants that ripen their wood in full sun.
Our Take
Tough, adaptable and handsome in autumn, trident maple is the maple for a street, a courtyard or a bonsai pot. It asks little and lives long.
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