TreeRM

Amur maple

Acer ginnala 路 Sapindaceae

A small, often multi-stemmed maple (now treated botanically as Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala) with three-lobed leaves on red stalks that turn fiery orange-red in fall, fragrant creamy spring flowers and red winged seeds in summer. It is extremely cold-hardy and drought tolerant, so it has been a favorite small yard, hedge and under-wire tree across the northern Plains and Canada. It seeds heavily into prairies and open woods, and Minnesota, Wisconsin and Connecticut now regulate or restrict the straight species.

Broadleaf, drops leavesFast growingSun or part shadeLow water
Amur maple
oleg_kosterin, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where it stands

Native

  • 馃嚚馃嚦 China 路 Native to northeastern China, Mongolia, the Russian Far East, Korea and Japan.source

Adapted

  • 馃嚚馃嚘 Canada 路 Widely planted hardy small tree across the Prairie provinces and Ontario; USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in Canada.source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 United States 路 Widely planted small tree across the northern US; naturalized in the Northwest and Midwest.source

Invasive

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 CT, United States 路 Potentially Invasive on the Connecticut Invasive Plant List (not yet subject to the sale ban).source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 MN, United States 路 Specially Regulated Noxious Weed in Minnesota; sellers must label it and advise planting away from natural areas.source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 PA, United States 路 On Pennsylvania DCNR's invasive plant fact sheet list.source

Prohibited

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 WI, United States 路 Restricted under Wisconsin NR 40 (all cultivars exempt).source

Care

Where permitted (or for exempt cultivars), plant in full sun in well-drained soil and water the first season; it tolerates heavy pruning and hedging in late winter. Pests are minor. Remove volunteer seedlings around plantings; seedless or low-seed cultivars are preferred where the species is regulated.

Benefits

Fall colorFits small spacesDrought tolerantFlowersWildlifeBirds

Good for

Small yardHedgerowScreeningContainer

Watch out for

Invasive elsewhere