Amur Maple (Tatarian Maple)
Acer ginnala · Sapindaceae (Soapberry family, commonly known as the Maple family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple leaf, deciduous
Shape
Ovated to oblong, distinctly three-lobed with an elongated, sharply pointed central lobe and smaller, forward-pointing lateral lobes
Margin
Doubly serrate (finely and sharply toothed edges)
Arrangement
Opposite arrangement on the twig, featuring a slender, reddish petiole
Venation
Palmate venation with three primary veins radiating from the base, branching into a prominent reticulate (net-like) network
Key Features
The most defining features are the deeply-toothed (doubly serrate), three-lobed leaves where the middle lobe is noticeably elongated and longer than the side lobes, combined with opposite leaf arrangement, a slender reddish petiole, and winged seeds that persist into autumn.
Description
Acer ginnala, commonly known as the Amur Maple, is a hardy, multi-stemmed large shrub or small deciduous tree typically growing 15 to 20 feet tall. Known for its brilliant autumn color transitions ranging from bright yellow to fiery orange and scarlet, it produces small, fragrant yellowish-white flowers in spring followed by distinctive winged samaras that often retain a rosy red hue before maturing.
Habitat
Thrives in full sun to partial shade, adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soils, highly tolerant of urban pollution, cold temperatures, and moderate drought once established
Native Range
Native to northeastern Asia (including China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan, and eastern Siberia); widely planted as an ornamental landscape shrub or small tree in North America and Europe, where it can occasionally escape cultivation