Trident Maple

Whether you live in the heart of the city, or on a postage-stamp-sized lot in the suburbs, you crave color in your landscape. You may have wistfully looked at our product pages for large Maple trees, like October Glory or Autumn Blaze and dreamed you could grow them, too.

Well, with this outstanding variety, you can!

The Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum) is a gorgeous deciduous tree that is native to Asia. It is hardy and can withstand some tough conditions, including road salt and urban air pollution.

This compact Maple tree features a graceful, upright, rounded canopy. The shiny leaves are quite distinctive with three lobes and a smooth edge.

Young leaves emerge red in spring. They’ll mature to a cool, deep, restful green for summer shade.

You’ll be amazed in fall when the leaves turn a wild mix of yellow, orange and fiery red. It is truly a stunning display that you’ll never grow tired of.

Even the bark is good-looking! As it ages, the mature trunk starts to exfoliate to reveal the orange color underneath.

Trident Maple is a tough, smaller tree that tolerates urban conditions extremely well. You’ll see city planners incorporate them in median plantings and along busy streets. They become quite drought tolerant once established.

This popular tree does have a high risk of selling out, so place your order for Trident Maple today. Leave us your email if it’s out of stock and we’ll let you know when the next crop is prepped and ready.

How to Use Trident Maple Tree in the Landscape

This beautiful tree gives you a sculptural focal point in your backyard or on your front lawn. It’s ornamental display works all year-long.

Be sure to plan for exterior lighting to get the most out of your tree. Shine the line up the length of the trunk into the canopy for a terrific, high-drama, nighttime look.

Sometimes, people allow the lower limbs to grow out. This allows you to experience that wonderful color on a shrubby plant.

Use a long row of these large, shrubby plants along your property line as an incredible screening plant. Plant them 10 feet apart on center to create a solid screen. Measure from trunk to trunk and leave the lower branches to grow out.

Repeat these trees along your garden borders, too. It becomes a fantastic backdrop with killer fall foliage and bark that peels to expose great color!

Create an informal grouping of 3 or 5 trees. Use a loose, zigzagging planting pattern and vary the width from 12 to 15 feet apart.

This is the perfect street tree. Use it along the “hell strip” between your sidewalk and road. Not many plants will tolerate that spot, but Trident Maple can handle road salt without missing a beat.

Of course, Trident Maple can be used for shade! Plant on the south or west side of your patio to protect you, your family and friends from the sun’s rays as you entertain outdoors.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Plant Trident Maple in full sun. They require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.

The ideal soil is well-drained, moist and slightly acidic. It is adaptable to average soils that drain well.

If you have clay soil that retains water for a long time, plant in a raised bed or mound. Heap extra soil 18 inches tall by 3 feet wide and plant directly in that mound.

If your soil isn’t acidic (with a low pH), you’ll want to apply an acid-lover fertilizer formula annually. Follow the application rate according to the directions on the label.

Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch to young trees, and spread it 3 feet outside the canopy. Pull the mulch away from the tree trunk by 6 inches. You’ll easily keep the root systems nice and cool, and slowly work to improve your soil.

Conduct careful watering to establish young trees. Water as needed throughout the first season.

The Trident Maple is drought tolerant, but you want to protect your investment in hot, dry weather. Provide a moderate amount of water as needed.

Prune just after it leaves out in spring. Correct the form and remove crossing branches.

Trident Maple gives you four seasons of interest. You’ll love the young, red leaves to their cool green shade all summer, it’s fiery fall color display, and the bark’s winter interest. Order yours today!