Maples
Trident Maple
Phonetic Spelling
AY-ser bur-jer-ee-AY-num
Description
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.
Example of Sizes
