Review Notes: Amur maple Aceraceae Acer ginnala Maxim.
Leaf: Opposite, simple, serrated, 2 to 4 inches long, 3 lobed; middle lobe is usually much longer than two side lobes; shiny green above, paler below. Leaf shape is highly variable.
Flower: Long-stemmed, pale yellow or creamy, tall wide clusters; appearing in early spring.
Fruit: Samara, 3/4 to 1" long, hanging at very tight angles or nearly parallel, ripen in early fall and persist.
Twig: Slender, glabrous, reddish brown, lighter lenticels, raised leaf scars and short broad buds.
Bark: Grayish brown, smooth, with darker striations or furrows with age.
Form: Small tree to 20 feet tall, multi-stemmed, spreading crown.
Description
General: Maple family (Aceraceae). Amur maple is an introduced, deciduous large shrub or small tree. It can be grown as a multistemmed clump or trained into a small tree with a single trunk. It can also be sheared into a hedge. The leaves are simple, opposite; eight to ten centimeters long, and coarsely toothed. The fragrant, creamy whit flowers appear with the new foliage in April and May (Dirr 1997). The fruit samaras are 0.75 to 1 inch long, held in small panicles and are red to brown in color. The bark is smooth and gray on young branches and grayish brown on older branches.
Distribution: Amur maple is native to Manchuria, north China and Japan and is cultivated in gardens and parks (McMinn & Maino 1951). For current distribution, please consult the Plant profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.
Adaptation
Acer ginnala grows best in moist well-drained soil, but can tolerate a wide variety of soils, poor soil fertility, and are pH adaptable. This species displays excellent tolerance to dry and alkaline soils (Dirr 1997). It is reasonably drought tolerant. It will tolerate shade, but develops a better fall color ifgrown in full sun. Acer ginnala grows best in colder climates with cool summers. It can be grown in hotter areas if care is taken to prevent dehydration.
Establishment
Propagation from Seed: Pre-soak the stored seed for twenty-four hours and then stratify for one to four months at 1-8ºC. Seeds can be harvested when they are fully developed but before they have dried and produced any germination inhibitors. Sow immediately in a seedbed or open frame. Spring sown seeds may not germinate for another year. Transfer to a nursery bed in the first spring. If the seeds are harvested too soon they will produce very weak plants or no plants at all.
Propagation from Cuttings: Cuttings of young shoots should be done in June or July. The cuttings should consist of two to three pairs of leaves and one pair of buds on the base. Place cuttings in plastic, bag and seal to prevent moisture loss. They must not be allowed to wilt. Trim the cuttings below the lowest node to remove the lower leaves leaving three or four at the tip. A rooting hormone may be applied to improve rooting before planting. Insert the cuttings in the rooting medium up to half their length so the leaves don’t touch each other. The cuttings should root in two to three weeks, after which they can be potted.
Management
Containerized trees should not be planted in their permanent position until they are twenty centimeters or taller. Amur maple should be pruned in the winter or early spring to help develop and maintain a good single trunk tree form. Amur maple is usually pest free; however, sometimes, spraying is necessary to controls aphids.
Supplied Height Approx 12" €3.50 + P&P
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Plant Type:- Tree
Colour:- Long-stemmed, pale yellow or creamy
Flowering Period:- Feb to Apr
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