Acer truncatum, The Shantung Maple
- Botanical Name: Acer truncatum
Common Name: Shantung Maple
Synonyms:
Category: Tree (Ornamental)
Family: Sapindaceae
Lifecycle: Perennial
Lifecycle (Alt): Perennial
USDA Symbol: ACTR
Hardiness Zone North: 4A
Hardiness Zone South: 8B
Sun Requirement: Full Sun (6+ hours)
Sun Requirement (Alt): High Sun (4—6 hours)
Water Requirement: Medium
Growth Rate: Moderate
Maintenance: Low
Plant Adult Height: 20-35 ft.
Plant Adult Spread: 20-25 ft.
Plant Spacing: 20-30 ft.
Soil Preference: Adaptable
Soil pH Preference: Adaptable
Propagation: Grafting, Seed, Stem Cutting
Attracts: Bees
Resists: NONE
Tolerates: Freeze, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Heat, Salt
Miscellaneous: Tolerates Poor Soil, Monoecious
Description: Shantung Maple is a deciduous maple grown primarily as a small-to-medium shade and ornamental tree for home landscapes. Gardeners recognize it by its neat, rounded form, dense branching, and thick, leathery, dark green leaves that are typically three-lobed with a squared-off look; foliage commonly turns clear yellow to yellow-orange and sometimes orange-red in autumn, and leaves often hold later than many maples. In spring as the leaves emerge, Shantung Maple produces small, greenish-yellow flowers in modest clusters that are not showy at a distance. It is used as a patio or lawn specimen, for street and parking-lot plantings, and in mixed borders where a tidy canopy and reliable fall color are desired, and it can be managed as a shade provider without heavy pruning demands. The flowers can provide early-season resources for pollinating insects, though it is not planted primarily for wildlife value. Shantung Maple is generally tolerant of urban conditions,
including air pollution and compacted soils, and once established it shows good drought tolerance; these traits typically translate into steady performance in tough sites and reduced irrigation needs compared with less tolerant maples. It also shows useful resistance to leaf scorch and is often less troubled by verticillium wilt than some other commonly planted maples, which can improve long-term reliability where that disease is a concern. Shantung Maple is not known to be invasive in typical garden settings, and it is not known to be toxic; it is generally considered pet-friendly, though pets should not be encouraged to chew any landscape plants. Its paired winged seeds (“helicopters”) are not considered edible for people and are best treated as ornamental litter rather than food.
Propagation & Planting: Plant Shantung Maple in a site with full sun to partial shade and enough room for its canopy to expand without crowding nearby trees or structures. Choose well-drained soil; if drainage is slow, improve it by mixing in compost and creating a broad, gently raised planting area rather than a deep amended hole. Dig a hole 2–3 times as wide as the root ball but no deeper; set Shantung Maple so the root flare (where the trunk widens at the top of the roots) sits at or slightly above the surrounding soil. Backfill with the native soil you removed, firming lightly to eliminate air pockets, then water slowly and thoroughly to settle the soil. Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch over the planting area to conserve moisture and reduce weeds, keeping mulch a few inches back from the trunk. Propagate Shantung Maple by seed: collect mature samaras in fall, cold-stratify (chill in moist medium) for about 3–4 months, then sow in spring in a well-drained mix and keep evenly moist until germination.
Plant Care: Grow Shantung Maple in full sun for strongest growth; provide light afternoon shade where summers are very hot to reduce leaf scorch. Water deeply and slowly, then let the top few inches of soil dry slightly before watering again; keep moisture even during dry spells, especially for recently established plants and those in containers. Avoid frequent light sprinkling, which encourages shallow roots. Use well-drained soil that stays evenly moist but never waterlogged; amend only as needed to improve drainage, and keep soil slightly acidic to neutral if possible. Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch over the root area to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature, keeping mulch a few inches away from the trunk. Fertilize lightly
in early spring only if growth is weak, using a balanced, slow-release fertilizer; avoid heavy feeding and avoid late-season nitrogen. Prune in late winter or very early spring to remove dead, damaged, or rubbing branches; make clean cuts just outside the branch collar. In containers, use a high-quality potting mix, ensure strong drainage, water more often, and refresh the top layer of mix or repot when roots become crowded.
Fertilize: Shantung Maple usually does not need routine fertilization once established because it grows well in average garden soils, and extra nitrogen can push soft growth that is more prone to problems. Fertilize only if growth is weak, leaves are smaller than normal, or a soil test shows low nutrients. If needed, apply a slow-release, balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 once in early spring as buds begin to swell; an alternative is a slow-release, nitrogen-lean “tree and shrub” fertilizer around 5-10-10. Spread it evenly over the soil under the canopy, starting a short distance away from the trunk and extending to the outer drip line, then water in well. Do not fertilize after mid-summer, and avoid high-nitrogen lawn fertilizers near the tree.
Prune: Prune Shantung Maple lightly to maintain a strong, clean framework. Do most pruning in late winter while the tree is dormant, just before buds begin to swell. Avoid pruning in early spring when sap is rising, because maples can “bleed” sap from fresh cuts, and avoid heavy pruning in late summer or fall, which can trigger tender growth. Any time of year, remove dead, broken, or diseased branches as soon as you notice them, cutting back to healthy wood. Make each cut just outside the branch collar (the slight swelling where a branch meets the trunk) and do not leave stubs or cut flush to the trunk. Thin crowded or crossing branches by removing one branch back to its point of origin, and keep cuts small whenever possible. Clean pruners between cuts if disease is suspected.
Pest & Disease: Shantung Maple commonly has aphids and soft scale: look for curled new leaves, sticky honeydew, and black sooty mold on leaves; confirm by spotting clusters of small soft-bodied insects or immobile bumps on twigs. Treat first with a strong water spray and prune out heavily infested shoots; encourage beneficial insects; if needed, use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap, coating undersides of leaves and twigs, and repeat as directed; monitor light infestations. Spider mites cause fine yellow stippling and a dusty look, often with delicate webbing; rinse foliage often, reduce drought stress, and use horticultural oil/soap if damage increases. Leafhoppers can cause pale speckling and premature leaf drop; manage with water sprays and remove nearby weeds; avoid unnecessary insecticides. Verticillium wilt shows sudden wilting or dieback of single branches, sometimes with green leaves that collapse and brown streaking under bark; promptly prune out dead wood, disinfect pruners, water during dry periods, and remove the tree if decline progresses. Tar spot causes round black, tar-like leaf spots; it is mostly cosmetic – rake and discard fallen leaves to reduce return. Anthracnose causes irregular brown patches and leaf drop, often starting along veins; rake leaves, prune for better air movement, and avoid wetting foliage; treat only repeated severe cases with labeled fungicides applied early. Cankers appear as sunken or cracked areas with dieback beyond; prune to healthy wood and prevent wounds and drought stress.
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