Acer Buergerianum

Acer beurgerianum, also known as the Trident Maple, is a beautiful and unusual specimen tree which is native to Eastern China and Taiwan.

Yellow green flowers appear in March, prior to the arrival of foliage and as the common name suggests, the leaves of this tree are tri-lobed, with the central lobe being more pronounced to form the trident. 

Upon emergence, the leaves are bronze in colour, hardening to a deeper green in the summer and finally producing a display of variable, yet rarely disappointing, autumn colour; from red to yellow and orange.

Acer beurgerianum matures to produce an interesting brown-orange bark which flakes to leave a patchwork of colour beneath, providing interest in the winter months.

This tree prefers a well-drained soil and sheltered aspect and whilst hardy to -25°C it may suffer a little die back in UK winter conditions, which can be easily pruned out in the spring.

The Trident Maple was introduced in 1890 and produces a tree of oval shape at maturity.  It is a useful addition to any arboretum or gardens where rare and interesting species are the order of the day!