Manchurian maple

Family: Maples. Occurs in Primorsky Krai, Korea, and northeastern China.

A graceful tree up to 20 m tall, with a high-positioned, rounded, open crown. Bark on the trunks is light gray, finely fissured; shoots are reddish-brown, glabrous; buds are small, reddish-brown. Elegant, trifoliate, compound leaves harmonize with long, thin, reddish petioles.

In spring the leaf blades are reddish-orange, sometimes reddish with a green tint; in summer dark green above and lighter beneath; in autumn they turn bright purple-red. Flowers are yellowish-green, fairly large, 3–5 in racemose inflorescences, opening simultaneously with the leaves. Flowering lasts 10–12 days.

Prefers light but can tolerate light shade. Demands a large feeding area and sufficient soil and air moisture. The root system is shallow but extensive, making the species wind-resistant. Transplants easily, but responds poorly to pruning and urban conditions. Grows slowly during the first 3 years. Flowers and fruits from about 13 years of age. Fruits ripen in mid-September. Mature plants are fully hardy. Reproduces by seed. About 28% of summer cuttings take root when treated with a 0.01% solution of IMK for 16 hours. Seedlings require winter protection.

Ornamental year-round, which allows its use in group and solitary plantings in parks and park-forests. Combines well with conifers. A good honey plant. In cultivation since 1904.