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Acer pentaphyllum

Chinese Maple

Plant Type:

TREES

Acer pentaphyllum (ex: Carlo Borsarini) - A small growing vase-shaped maple that is likely extinct in the wild. The leaves are interesting in that they look more like marijuana than maple displaying the usual five lobes, sometimes up to seven, but very narrow. The fingered leaves turn nice shades of yellow, orange and / or red in autumn before dropping. The overall look of the tree is rather elegant. Discovered by Joseph Rock in 1929 during a National Geographic Soceity expedition in the southwestern portion of Sichuan near Muli. This endemic lived in an area designated to become a vast reservoir by the Chinese government. Does anyone else out there feel this planet would be better without us on it?? It is often grown smaller, 9 to 12 feet tall; but over a long period of time this laudable Chinese Maple may grow as tall as 30 feet. Full to part sun in fertile ground.


Height:

15-20 ft

Spread:

12-15 ft

Zone:

(6b)7 to 9(10?)
What is my hardiness zone?

Characteristics and Attributes for Acer pentaphyllum

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Spring

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Spring / Summer / Autumn

Autumn Interest

  • Autumn Leaf Color

Light

  • Full Sun
  • Mostly Sunny

Attributes

  • Specimen
  • Bonsai Candidate
  • Accent
  • Collector Plant

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Moderately Fast

Soil

  • Draining
  • Fertile

Origins

  • China

Propagated By

  • Cutting Grown

Genus Overview: Acer

So many maples, so little time! There are an extraordinary number of very good species in Aceraceae, many of smaller stature that fit well in smaller landscapes and gardens of any size. Most have multi-season appeal and, indeed, these are the ones to which we at Quackin’ Grass Nursery gravitate. Most are content in fertile draining soils sited in full sun. Others are happier in the part sun conditions akin to the understory stature as suggested by their size. Through the years we have found that many maples when planted in the far northern end of the USDA hardiness range respond well to protection during at least their first winter - preferably more - in the landscape, i.e. use tall stakes set firmly in the ground with burlap attached completely barricading the tree. All of our maple offerings are cutting grown; these plants are not grafted.