Trident maple (Acer buergerianum)

Image - Wikimedia / Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz

El Acer buergerianum It is a magnificent tree, which decorates the garden throughout the year, perhaps somewhat less in winter as it is devoid of leaves. Its beauty is such that it is not surprising that it is often worked as a bush or even as a bonsai, to be able to enjoy it without having to have land to plant it.

As if that were not enough, it is very resistant to freezing temperatures, so you will not have to worry about those days when there is snowfall. Get to know him better.

Origin and characteristics

Known as trident maple, is a deciduous tree or shrub originally from China, Japan and Taiwan that reaches a height of between 3 and 7 meters. Its crown is open, sometimes even with several trunks. The branches are thin, brown, and from them sprout 3-10 by 4-6cm trilobed leaves, with acute triangular lobes, and usually with the entire edge, bright green and also glaucous on the underside.

The flowers are grouped in corymbose, whitish, and terminal inflorescences. The fruit is a small samara, about 2,5 cm long and yellowish brown in color.

During the fall he dresses in his best clothes, dyeing his foliage reddish and orange before running out of it.

What are their cares?

Image - Flickr / Tie Guy II

If you want to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:

• Location: it must be outside, in full sun, or in semi-shade if you live in an area with strong sunshine (such as on the coasts of the Mediterranean region, for example).
• Earth:
  • Garden: grows in fertile soils, with good drainage, and slightly acidic (pH 5 to 6).
  • Pot: use growing medium for acidic plants (you can get it here), but if the weather is very hot in summer it is better to mix 70% of akadama with 30% perlite.
• Irrigation: about 4 or 5 times a week in summer, and somewhat less the rest of the year. Use rainwater, with a low pH (4 to 6) or without lime.
• Subscriber: from early spring to autumn with specific fertilizers for acid plants following the indications specified on the package. It is also interesting to pay from time to time (once every two months for example) with Organic fertilizers so that no nutrient is lacking.
• Pruning: in late winter remove dry, diseased, weak or broken branches, and trim those that are growing too much.
• Multiplication: by seeds in winter.
• Rusticity: it resists up to -18ºC, but it cannot live in tropical climates.

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