Coliseum maple is a medium to large deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae ) native to mixed forests from Turkey to the Caucasus, the Himalayas, and southwestern China. It is currently very commonly seen growing in North America. The genus means maple, and the species name refers to a geographic region in modern Turkey where the tree was first discovered. Plant in full sun or partial shade in various soil types but prefer moist, organically rich, and acidic. The rounded crown typically grows to 35' tall and to 25' wide, although trees in the native habitat may mature to as much as 60-80' tall. The leaves are lobed and bright green turning attractive yellow to red in the fall. The flowers are greenish-yellow and fairly insignificant but the samaras that follow add interest to the summer and fall landscape. Unlike most maples, this species usually produces root suckers around the base of the tree to form extensive groves over time. Coliseum maple may be difficult to source, though it makes an attractive addition to any landscape. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 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. 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) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 25 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low; Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Cordate; Palmatifid
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are 3 to 6 in., opposite, and simple with 5 to 7 lobes. They have golden/ yellow fall color.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Corymb
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Monoecious yellowish-green flowers (separate male and female flowers on the same tree) bloom in corymbs (to 2" long) in April. Non-showy
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
Colorful samaras in the fall.
Bark color
Dark Gray; Green
Bark detail
Mature bark is gray green and furrowed
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
Remains green through year 3, smooth and gray thereafter. Leaf stems when cut exude a milky sap.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Caucasus, Asia Minor, Northern India
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.
Attracts
Moths; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Samara
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Nighttime Garden; Pollinator Garden
Garden tags
#deciduous #full sun tolerant #non-showy flowers #fast growing #imperial moth #larval host plant #nighttime garden #fall interest #deciduous tree #low maintenance #fall color red #fall color yellow #red fruits #pollinator plant #wildlife friendly