Trident maple is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) that is native to Asia. Genus name is the Latin name for a maple tree. The species name honors Heinrich Buerger, 19th-century German botanist. This tree has a rounded branching form and grows 25- 35 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide. Its preference is for full sun and average well-drained acidic soils; however, it is tolerant of a range of soil moistures and textures. It is also tolerant of wind, salt, drought, air pollution, and soil compaction. Trident maple has a slow to medium growth rate and is easy to transplant. Propagation is by seed. The leaves have three forward-facing lobes resembling a trident. This tree tends to grow as a multi-stemmed, low-branching specimen, but it can be pruned to a single stem. The exfoliating bark reveals an orange-brown inner bark, which adds interest. The fall color can be variable, sometimes yellows but usually reds and oranges. It is frequently used in bonsai. Other uses can be as a street tree or a shade tree for smaller spaces. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Verticillium wilt is a potential problem for maples. It may suffer limb breakage with snow or ice. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests. More information on Acer .
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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 25 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Oval; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Obovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
1.5 to 3.5-inch leaves are simple and opposite with 3 triangular lobes that point forward, resembling a trident. Leaf base is rounded. Fall color is variable but usually reds and oranges. Color changes later than most maples.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Corymb; Insignificant
Flower detail
Blooms in spring with small greenish-yellow flowers
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
1 inch long samaras in pairs in the fall.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Light Brown; Light Gray; Orange
Bark detail
Exfoliating gray bark develops on mature trunks and reveals an orange-brown inner bark. Adds winter interest.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Twigs are slender, flexible and reddish-brown. They have gray hairs. The buds are sharp-pointed.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Eastern China, Japan, 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.