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Acer davidii

Acer davidii

Père David's maple

Description

The native range of Acer davidii (Père David's maple) is Central and Western China where it can normally be found growing as a multi-stem tree in the shrub layer of the forest, up to a height of around fifteen metres. In cultivation, Père David's maple forms an oval, semi-open and vase-shaped crown eight to ten metres tall and between seven and nine metres wide. Acer davidii was discovered in 1885 by French missionary, botanist and catholic priest Armand David.  

In May, Père David's maple has showy blooms of pendulous, pale yellow racemes which are particularly loved by bees. Male and female flowers are found on the same plant. After flowering, green winged seeds appear on the tree which later change to red-brown. The budding leaf which has a hairy underside is red and changes to dark green with a glabrous underside in the summer and in the autumn - depending on location - Acer davidii delights with lovely yellow, orange to red autumn foliage. In its juvenile state, the oval leaf is lobed but this characteristic disappears as the tree matures. Young stems and branches have a red bark which later changes to green, and the young twigs are tinged dark red to violet. Père David's maple is known for its vertically striped, grey and white bark.  

Acer davidii makes an ideal park and garden tree. The characteristic species can be used in a bright location as a solitary specimen or in groups provided the stems of the tree are given a degree of shade. This is because it does not tolerate full sun on its trunk. Plant Acer davidii on moist but well-drained soil that is rich in nutrients for the best growth and blossom. Ideally, the soil should be slightly acid although the tree also thrives on alkaline soils. Père David's maple is sensitive to dry and warm micro-climates and will suffer when crowded out by grass and weeds at its roots. An application of mulch is, therefore, recommended.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees multi-stemmed trees characteristic trees solitary shrubs

Topiary on stem

fval multi-stem umbrella

Use

Location

park central reservation large garden small garden cemetery

Pavement

none none

Planting concepts

shade-tolerant

Characteristics

Crown shape

narrow oval narrow oval

Crown structure

semi-open semi-open

Height

8 - 10 m

Width

7 - 9 m

Winter hardiness zone

6A - 9B

Aspects

Wind

tolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay peaty heavy clay light clay sand loamy soil all soils

Nutrient level

moderately rich in nutrients rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

moist

Light requirements

partial shade shade

pH range

acidic neutral

Host plant/forage plant

bees

Get to know Ebben Nurseries

Visit our nurseries with multi-stem trees, climbing trees, trees for avenues and parks characteristic trees and solitary shrubs.

Make an appointment

Place order or further information?

Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Acer davidii? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
Call +31(0) 485 31 20 21 or email one of our advisors directly.
Our planting advisors

Photos

Magnify

Flowers

Flowers

corymbose striking pendulous

Flower colour

pale yellow

Flowering period

May

Leaves

Leaf colour

buds red dark green

Leaves

deciduous ovoid underside hairy

Autumn colour

yellow orange red

Fruits

Fruit colour

red green

Fruits

discrete winged

Bark

Bark colour

white green

Bark

slightly furrowed striped

Twigs

Twig colour

red green

Twigs

striped

Root system

Root system

compact highly branched

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

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Winter hardiness zone
OK
Coastal area
OK
Use
Location
OK
Pavement
OK
Host plant/forage plant
OK
Planting concepts
OK
Types of planting
Tree types
OK
Multi-stemmed trees
OK
Crown structure
OK
Crown shape
OK
Topiary on stem
OK
Topiary
OK
Height
m
-
m
OK
Width
m
-
m
OK
Aspects
Wind
OK
Soil
OK
Nutrient level
OK
Soil moisture level
OK
Light requirements
OK
PH range
OK
Extreme environments
OK
Stage of succession
OK
Plant characteristics
Flowering period
January
-
December
OK
Flower colour
OK
Leaf colour
OK
Autumn colour
OK
Fruit colour
OK
Bark colour
OK
Special features
OK
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