Common Name: Chinese maple
Type: Tree
Family: Sapindaceae
Native Range: Central China, Taiwan
Zone: 7 to 9
Height: 15.00 to 30.00 feet
Spread: 15.00 to 30.00 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Description: White with red sepals
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Insignificant
Leaf: Good Fall
Tolerate: Rabbit, Black Walnut
Culture
Best grown in evenly moist, light, humusy, slightly acidic, well-drained loams in full sun to part shade. Site in locations sheltered from strong winds. Intolerant of full shade. Established trees have some tolerance for drought. This tree may not be reliably winter hardy to the St. Louis area.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Acer oliverianum, sometimes commonly called oliver maple, is a small deciduous maple that typically grows to 15-30' tall. It is native to valleys and forests in central to southeastern China. It has upright-spreading, nearly horizontal branching that is somewhat reminiscent of Acer palmatum (Japanese maple). Branches are green to brownish-green with a gray-white waxy bloom. Each palmate leaf (to 2-5" wide) has a truncate to subcordate base and five finely-toothed, triangular-ovate lobes. Leaves emerge with bronze tones in spring, mature to medium green by summer and exit in fall (usually late fall) with an often superb combination of oranges, reds and yellows. White flowers with red sepals bloom in peduncled corymbs in spring. Flowers are followed by samaras (to 1" long) with diverging wings.
Genus name is the Latin name for a maple tree.
Species name honors Daniel Oliver (1830-1916), keeper the Herbarium and Library at Kew Gardens from 1864 to 1890.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Small maple that is uncommonly grown in the U.S.