Acer triflorum

Brilliant fall color and striking bark make three-flower maple an excellent choice.


While larger shade trees and smaller ornamental trees get appropriate consideration in the landscape, I feel mid-size selections get short shrift. One of my favorite mid-sized trees that has performed admirably for decades is the three-flower maple (Acer triflorum). Native to portions of China and the Koreas in mixed forest elevations between 1,300 feet and 5,600 feet, this hardy maple provides solid seasonal interest and is a valid understory selection for part shade. Reaching about 25 feet tall and wide in time, this well-branched tree is more rounded and compact in full sun but upright and spreading in shadier locations. The compound, trifoliate leaves (three leaflets) offer an interesting texture and amazing orange-red fall color will transition over a long period of time. The fall color, the primary ornamental characteristic, is brilliant and still quite fetching in shadier locations.
© Mark Dwyer
 

Introduced domestically into cultivation in 1923, this maple species is still not commonly available. This is likely due to a complex seed dormancy and limited success with cuttings. Greenish-yellow, spring flowers are in clusters of three (hence the common name) and the compound, dark green leaves emerge quickly. Shallow rooted, this maple prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soils but is drought-tolerant once established and has exhibited some salt tolerance. Overly damp or compacted soils should be avoided. While part sun is preferred, full sun is acceptable in northern ranges and if moisture is consistent to avoid leaf scorching. Three-flower maple has very few insect or disease problems although it can be affected by verticillium wilt. The ideal planting time for this species is either spring or fall.

The warm brown, furrowed bark is noticeably striking with vertical strips peeling to reveal an orange-brown inner bark. Exfoliation is very prominent, particularly on younger specimens. I’ve seen single and multi-stemmed versions of this plant and most come with lower branching intact. Trim as needed although consider the potential value of that lower canopy for screening. The icing on the cake is that this tree has also received an Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) which is no small matter.

 

Why grow Acer trilforum?

  • Hardy and durable in a wide range of soils and settings
  • Amazing orange-red fall color (3-4 weeks), even in partly shaded locations
  • Beautiful furrowed, peeling bark
  • Solid performing understory tree

 

Mark Dwyer is currently the Garden Manager for the Edgerton (WI) Hospital Healing Garden after 21 years as Director of Horticulture at Rotary Botanical Gardens (Janesville, WI). He also operates Landscape Prescriptions by MD, a landscape design and consultation business. mcdwyer@zoho.com

February 2023
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