Trident maple (Acer buergerianum) | seeds, 10 pcs.

FROST TOLERANT

• Latin name: Acer buergerianum
• Danish names: Trefingret løn, kinesisk trefingret løn
• English names: Trident maple, Chinese trident maple

Acer buergerianum is a beautiful and versatile maple tree from China, Taiwan, and Japan. The species is particularly known for its characteristic three-lobed leaves, its attractive bark, and its spectacular autumn colors, which can vary from golden yellow to orange and deep red.

The tree develops an elegant and harmonious growth habit with a dense crown and relatively small leaves. Compared to the popular Japanese maple Acer palmatum, Acer buergerianum is generally more robust against heat, drought, and pruning, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced growers. If you are looking for a larger tree with some of the most spectacular autumn colors among maple species, you can also look at Acer rubrum, the North American red maple, which is famous for its intense red autumn shades.

For centuries, the species has been valued in Asian gardens, where it is grown both as an ornamental tree and as a bonsai. The small leaves, fine branching, and beautiful bark make it one of the world's most popular maple species for bonsai cultivation.

With age, the trunk develops a fine structure with decorative bark patches, which further increases its value as a bonsai tree and collector's plant.

Cultivation and requirements

Acer buergerianum thrives best in full sun to light shade and prefers:

• Well-drained and humus-rich soil
• Even moisture without standing water
• Protection against extreme drying out
• Good air circulation

A nutrient-rich and well-drained garden soil is ideal for cultivation. In pots and bonsai containers, it is advantageous to use a well-drained soil mix that provides the roots with good oxygenation.

The species is fully hardy in Denmark and can be grown directly outdoors in most gardens. It is suitable as a solitary tree, a small garden tree, and as a bonsai.

The autumn colors often become most intense when the tree is grown in a bright location and experiences cool autumn nights.

Suitable for bonsai

Acer buergerianum is considered by many bonsai enthusiasts to be one of the best maple species for bonsai. The species quickly develops an attractive trunk, reacts well to pruning, and forms dense and fine branching.

The relatively small leaves make it easier to create harmonious miniature trees than with many other maple species. At the same time, the species tolerates pruning better than, for example, Acer palmatum, which makes it particularly popular among both beginners and experienced bonsai growers.

Cultivation from seed

Seeds of Acer buergerianum require cold stratification to break dormancy.

• Sow in moist soil or sand
• Cold stratification for 8–12 weeks at 1–5 °C
• Thereafter, place the seeds at 15–22 °C
• Keep the soil slightly moist throughout the process

Germination usually occurs during the spring after the cold period. The young plants grow relatively quickly and can be shaped at an early stage if they are to be grown as bonsai.

Utility and collector value

Acer buergerianum is primarily grown as an ornamental and collector's tree. The combination of beautiful autumn colors, elegant growth, and high bonsai value makes the species popular among both garden owners and enthusiasts.

For collectors of maple trees, it represents an exciting alternative to the classic Acer palmatum while offering a more robust and adaptable growth.

The tree is beautiful all year round, but the autumn color change and the decorative bark on older specimens in particular make it something very special.

Acer buergerianum is an obvious choice for the plant enthusiast who wants to grow an elegant maple tree entirely from seed – a hardy species with beautiful autumn colors, great bonsai value, and high collector value.