PSC 2620: Woody Trees and Shrub | Course Home | Week 6 |
The glossy leaves have 5 triangular lobes and a smooth margin. | Young bark has a purplish overcast, while mature bark is gray-brown with ridges and furrows. |
Acer truncatum, Purpleblow or Shantung Maple, is a small maple that grows 20-25 feet tall. It could be considered an ornamental tree because of its attractive leaf and good fall color. It is more often used in a much more utilitarian manner as a lawn tree or street tree. It is an attractive tree, with a rounded form, dense canopy and a regular branching habit. It is hardy and drought tolerant, adapting to many different types of soil and climate conditions.
Young bark has a purplish overcast to it, from which the common name is derived. As the bark matures it develops a gray-brown color and the bark develops and ridged and furrowed appearance.
The leaf is 3 to 5 inches wide with five lobes and a smooth margin. Each lobe has a triangular shape, creating a very clean and symmetrical looking leaf. The leaf is an attractive dark green in color. Leaves are arranged oppositely on the stem. The fall color is a lovely mixture of yellows, oranges and reds The samaras are 1 1/4 inches long, green in color and the wings hang at a 90 degree angle.
Its compact size makes it a good selection as an ornamental, street or lawn tree.
The actual species is difficult to come by as it is not readily available. When I enquired as to the reason for this, several growers in the Northwest told me that the tree grew too vigorously in their mild climate and became gangly.
Pacific Sunset br> A hybrid with Acer platanoides, this is the most popular form of Purpleblow Maple. It has an upright form with a fine branching pattern. Grows to reach 30 feet tall. Unfortunately the leaves are much closer to Acer platanoides instead of Acer truncatum. br>
Norwegian Sunset br> Also a hybrid with Acer platanoides, it grows to be 35 feet tall. It has an upright form with a good branching habit. br>