Maples

Location: Jayhawk Boulevard, Budig Hall, Robinson, Chancellor's residence, N side (state champion); Computer Services Facility, N side
Approximate blooming period: spring

Amur maple, Acer ginnala

Origin: China, Manchuria, Japan
Habitat: Hardy to USDA Zone 2
Height and Form: Deciduous tree/shrub, 10-20 ft (3-6 m) high
Foliage and Bark: leaves of adult trees of this species are unlobed, whereas leaves of young trees or vigorous shoots may be 3- to 5-lobed, 
Flowers, Fruit and Seeds: Blooms mid-spring, fruit (samaras) hang on late into fall, wings nearly parallel. 
Culture: Sun to part shade, very adaptable, very hardy (popular in east and midwest), performs best in well-drained soil.  Relatively free of disease and pest problems. 
Name: ginnala: the native name, or possibly from the Greek ginnos, a small mule, referring to its size and hardiness
Cultivars/Varieties:

‘Embers’   -   red fruit and red fall color

‘Flame’   -   fast growing, long arching branches, fall color orange-red to deep red

'Emerald Elf'   -   dwarf form

• Oregon State University - Acer ginnala

Japanese maple, Acer palmatum

Origin: China, Korea, Japan 
Habitat: Perennal tree shrub Hardy to USDA Zone 5  
Height and Form: 3-25 ft x 3-30 ft 
Foliage and Bark: Inconspicuous red in spring 
Flowers, Fruit and Seeds: Fruit (samara) 1.3-2 cm long, much incurved, ripen in early fall.
Culture: Sun to part shade, well-drained soil; protect from winds. Often used in bonsai
Cultivars/Varieties:

Japanese  Acer palmatum 
                  Bloodgood  Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’
                  Coralbark   Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’
                  Dissected   Acer palmatum var. dissectum 
                  Ever Red  Acer palmatum var. dissectum atropurpureum ‘Ever Red’
                  Red Dissected   Acer palmatum var. dissectum atropurpureum 
                  Shaina  Acer palmatum ‘Shaina’
                  Shindeshojo, Shin Deshojo  Acer palmatum ‘Shindeshojo’

• USDA PLANTS Database - Acer palmatum
• Oregon State University - Acer palmatum 

Trident maple, Acer buergeranum

Origin: Japan, Eastern China, and Korea
Habitat: Hardy to USDA Zone 5  
Height and Form: 20-35+ ft 
Foliage and Bark: Leaves opposite, simple, 4-9 cm long and wide, rounded or wedge-shaped at base, very lustrous dark green above; fall color yellow, orange and red. 
Flowers, Fruit and Seeds: Small greenish yellow flowers are hardly noticeable.  Fruit (samara) about 2 cm long wings, parallel. 
Culture: Sun. Well-drained acid soil.  Drought resistant. 
Name: also known as Three-toothed Maple 
Cultivars/Varieties

• Oregon State University - Acer buergeranum