Acer buergerianum seeds - Trident maple

Acer buergerianum, the trident maple or Buerger's maple, is an Asian maple prized for its trilobed foliage, its very vivid autumn colours and its beautiful orange-brown bark, which flakes with age. Seeds offer the possibility of obtaining several specimens at a low cost, which are long-lasting with a strong root system. A small, characterful tree, both sturdy and refined, it is perfect in a Japanese-style setting, a small city garden or as a bonsai. Give it deep, humus-bearing, well-drained soil, preferably neutral to slightly acidic.

This maple belongs to the Sapindaceae family, which includes most maples. Acer buergerianum is now the accepted species name; several older or alternative synonyms are attached to it, including Acer trifidum, Acer subtrilobum, Acer lingii and Acer ningpoense. It can be found in central and eastern China, on hills and mountain slopes, as well as in Taiwan, in open forests and woodland edges, on well-drained soils. The tree was introduced very early to Japan, then to Europe and North America as an ornamental species. It is a deciduous tree of significant longevity, reaching a maximum of 8 to 12m in height and 4 to 8m in spread. A young specimen has a rather narrow, upright crown, then its canopy rounds out and becomes denser with age. The leaves are quite thick, 3 to 6cm long and 3.5 to 6.5cm wide. They have three triangular lobes, the central lobe being more elongated, like a trident. The leaves are dark green, glossy on top, paler and slightly greyish on the underside. In spring, the young leaves may take on a bronze tint, before turning green in summer. In autumn, the trident maple takes on very warm colours, from yellow to carmine red via orange, depending on the exposure and the nature of the soil. The insignificant flowering occurs early in spring with small pendulous clusters of greenish to yellowish flowers, appreciated by insects. They give way to small samaras grouped in pairs, with wings arranged in a fairly closed V-shape, which turn brown at the end of the season.
The bark, initially smooth and grey-brown, exfoliates gradually in irregular patches, revealing decorative orange-brown hues. The root system is rather spreading, well-branched, without being invasive. This maple can be planted relatively close to a terrace or a path, while keeping some distance from walls.
In many countries, Acer buergerianum is used as a street or avenue tree, as well as an excellent subject for bonsai due to its good response to pruning. Very hardy (–20 °C, or even less), it withstands harsh winters well.

Seeds require a period of cold stratification to break their dormancy (as in nature after winter). It takes three to four years to obtain a young tree of 1.50 to 2m in open ground, then eight to ten years to enjoy a fine, well-structured tree of 3 to 4m. It will only reach its mature size after twenty years or more.

The trident maple can be used as a small ornamental tree near a terrace, at the edge of a path or on the edge of woodland. It looks superb with a Japanese maple 'Orange Dream', or a Cornus kousa 'Satomi'. An Amelanchier lamarckii will enrich the scene with its spring flowers and coppery end-of-season colours.