Acer tataricum ssp. ginnala

Amur maple is a subspecies of a less cultivated species called Tatar maple. This one comes from NE Asia, precisely Mongolia, Korea, Japan, and mainly the Amur River valley between Russia and China. It can be variable in habit but usually forms a vase-shaped, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with dome-shaped canopy. Deciduous leaves are three-lobed, prominently and irregularly serrated at margins, mid green in summer turning a fantastic palette of colours in autumn hence its other Czech name: fire maple. The shades include deep golden orange, scarlet red, fiery red as well as burgundy red. These colours don’t last long which is common for many maples, yet they are breathtaking and make Amur maple of the sought-after small trees for mid-sized gardens.

It needs some age to look good. Young plants grow fast and look rather twiggy. Give it time and refrain from pruning, have some patience and it will make a beautiful habit on its own. All you can do is to remove bottom branches in order to achieve handsome clear stems at the bottom part. Any cutting should be done in mid to late winter to prevent from bleeding sap.

It will grow in almost any soil type including compacted, and is tolerant of salt when planted near the road. It only dislikes chalky and too wet ground. For best results grow it in evenly moist, slightly acidic soil in full sun. It is rated hardy to min. -34°C (USDA zone 4), however, some sources confirm problem-free cultivation from zone 2.

Last update 01-03-2017