Acer ginnala Seeds | Amur Maple
LATIN NAME: Acer ginnala
COMMON NAME: Amur Maple
Plant Profile
Modern floras frequently fold this plant into the Tatarian maple as Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala, because the two intergrade across a broad swath of Asia. The old binomial is still the one printed on most seed packets, and either name points to the same compact, multi stemmed tree.
The leaves are deeply three lobed with coarse teeth, distinctly narrower than the broad palm of a Norwegian maple, and they are borne on slender twigs that arch as the plant matures. In late spring the tree carries small fragrant yellow flowers in upright clusters, and these give way to paired winged keys whose wings blush red as they ripen, a feature that makes identification easy even from a moving car.
The genus Acer is known for its sugar carrying sap, and the Amur maple shares the trait, though its sap runs in smaller volume and the concentration is lower, so the boil down ratio is steep. Enthusiasts still tap a few branches for a light amber syrup as a novelty rather than a crop.
Left unpruned it makes a rounded small tree, but it responds well to shearing and is widely used as a tall screen or windbreak. Dwarf selections such as Compactum suit courtyards and rock gardens, and the fine twig structure makes it a favourite raw material for maple bonsai.
Seed set is heavy in a good year, and the paired keys ripen from red to tan before they spin to the ground. Collect them as they begin to colour and remove the wing if you want quicker, more even sprouting after the cold treatment.
Science & Biotechnology
The autumn crimson is driven by anthocyanin accumulation in the leaf, the same protective pigment that shields foliage from bright late season light, and the intensity tracks with cool nights. Breeders have used the species as a source of cold tolerance and red colour for crossing into less hardy maples.
Because it tolerates alkaline soil, salt spray, and compacted ground better than many maples, the Amur maple has been trialled as a street tree and a highway planting, where its small stature keeps it clear of overhead wires.
Established trees survive temperatures that would kill box elder and silver maple, and the species is routinely recommended for the coldest planting zones, which is the single trait that keeps it in commerce where showier but tender maples fail.
Uses & Benefits
For the gardener the naming debate is mostly academic, because the plant is sold and grown under the old binomial and performs the same either way, but knowing the link helps when comparing it with the Tatarian maple in a nursery catalogue.
In the landscape the tree’s small stature and dense twig structure make it a natural for narrow city lots and for training as a multi stemmed specimen, and the red samaras feed songbirds in late summer. Its tolerance of shearing also makes it one of the better maples for a formal hedge.
Like most maples the sap runs in early spring and can be boiled, though the sugar concentration is lower than in sugar maple, so the yield per tap is a hobbyist’s project rather than a commercial crop. The result is a delicate amber syrup worth trying once.
Growing from Seed
The winged seed is double seeded in each pair, and it needs a cold moist period to break dormancy. Mix the cleaned keys with damp sand and hold them in a refrigerator through the cold months, then sow in spring once the chill requirement is met.
Seedlings grow slowly at first and should be potted on individually once they show three true leaves, because crowding twists the taproot and sets back the first season. Grow them in deep containers so the root runs straight before it meets field soil.
Our Take
Young plants are often mistaken for the related Tatarian maple, but the Amur’s leaves are noticeably narrower and more deeply cut, and the autumn colour is a deeper, more uniform red. When buying, match the plant to its hardiness zone rather than to a catalogue photo.
For a maple that asks little and colours hard, the Amur maple is hard to beat in a cold garden. Gardeners comparing options should also look at Japanese maple, the maple bonsai tradition, and the handsome paperbark maple. Wholesale maple seed for the tree and bonsai trade is listed by the category through nurseries that supply the group in quantity.
Related Reading
If Amur Maple appeals to you, these related plants are worth a look: