Amur Maple
People don’t usually associate maple trees with any type of flowering habits, but the Amur maple is the exception to the rule. As lovely as it may be, however, for those living in northern North America there are some facts you need to know about this maple.
The Amur maple tree is native to the Asian regions of China and Japan. In the United States, it can be found anywhere in North America, and seems to thrive in cold climates. This maple is an extremely easy specimen to transplant, as it is very amenable to different soils and climates. Either full sun or part shade conditions will provide a good habitat for the tree. Considered to be in the small tree or large shrub category, the Amur maple grows only to heights of around 20 feet, and at a slow rate. Early in the year, you will see the emergence of little yellow flower clusters; fragrant on the fresh breezes of springtime. Leaf buds will follow shortly thereafter, which will become brilliant green foliage as spring progresses.
Throughout the summer months, the Amur maple tree is one that provides great shade. Due to its smaller size, many prefer to use this tree near patios or porches for the cooling shade it provides without requiring a lot of room. The fact that it does well in city conditions make it a popular and attractive choice for small housing lots.
At some point in late summer, the Amur maple will begin to produce seeds in numerous quantities. The seeds are red in color, with two wings to enable the wind to carry them away from the parent tree. These seeds are produced in such great numbers that the Amur maple has actually been declared as an invasive species for northern and central North America, so be sure to check with your local extension service before planting.
In the autumn, the time arrives for the Amur maple tree to really shine. The bright green leaves begin to change over to speckled red first before exhibiting a flaming mound of brilliant scarlet leaves. These, along with the long, red winged seeds make the Amur maple an awesome sight to behold.
For visual appeal, few can compete with the Amur maple tree. Sweet smelling yellow flowers in the spring, bright green foliage with ample shade during the summer months, and the burning bush type foliage in the fall, accented by the long red seeds; it is easy to see why many yearn to have a tree such as the Amur maple, with all of its personalities, as part of their landscape. Take care to research your area ahead of time, however, to ensure that it is not one of the areas considering the Amur maple to be invasive. While a lovely specimen, the beauty is not worth the risk of endangering the native flora.