Minnesota Tree Care Advisors

Characteristics
Disease Management

This species is native to Central and Northern China, parts of Manchuria and also Japan. Introductions to the United States began in 1860 and the tree has been quite popular not only due to its attractive form and fall color, but also its ability to thrive on harsh, dry sites.

Small tree height:		12-20'

Canopy spreads:		12-20', Typically multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with a rounded form.

Drought Tolerance:		Tolerant

Shade Tolerance:		Tolerant

Soil pH Tolerance:		Tolerant to high pH

Poor Soil Drainage:		Intermediate to flooding

Salt Tolerance:		Intermediate to salt spray and Intermediate to soil salts.

Oppositely branched tree with smooth gray bark when young and maturing to a brownish-gray bark. Foliage is a glossy green in summer with a variety of golds, yellows, oranges and reds in the fall. Other strong characteristics, the three lobed leaf has a strongly prominent center lobe with the lateral lobes of the leaf being much smaller. The leaves have doubly toothed margins. The fruit is a double winged-samara that is in the form of a "U."

Amur Maple is a good tree for droughty sites.

This tree is readily available in the nursery trade. Some of its cultivars are 'Embers', introduced by Bailey's Nurseries Inc from Minnesota, 'Flame', and 'Red Fruit.'

Did you know
Acer ginnala is more common in the nursery trade, but a similar tree is Acer tataricum (Tatarian maple).

DISEASE		SYMPTOMS	MANAGEMENT
Anthracnose, Discula species and others	Fungi	Tan/brown/black spots and blotches develop on leaves during wet periods. Spring infections result in leaf distortion. Necrosis may follow the veins.	Rake up and destroy or compost fallen leaves. Promote tree vigor. Not seriously damaging to healthy established trees. CHEMICAL: Preventative fungicides should be applied beginning at bud break when deemed necessary. Bordeaux, chlorothalonil, fixed coppers, mancozeb, thiophanate-methyl or zyban.
Leaf spot, Phyllosticta minima	Fungi	Well-defined lesion on the leaf surface with a light-colored center and dark margin at maturity. Tiny black dots (fruiting bodies of the fungus) are often visible.	Rake up and destroy fallen leaves. Avoid wetting the tree foliage during irrigation. Promote tree vigor. Seldom damaging to healthy, established trees. CHEMICAL: Treat preventatively with Bordeaux 8-8-100, fixed coppers or mancozeb.
Target-shaped canker, Nectria galligena, Eutypella parasitica	Fungi	Perennial cankers develop around wounds on immature trees, usually within 10 feet of the ground. The trunk is swollen around the canker, which often has a ãtarget-likeä appearance.	Plant on good sites in proper zone. Prevent damage to trunk and limbs. Promote tree vigor. Remove branches with cankers. May become a hazard tree and should be evaluated as such. CHEMICAL: None.
Tar spot, Rhytisma acerinum	Fungi	Roughly circular, raised black spots on the leaf surface which resemble spots of tar. Seldom a problem.	Maintain tree vigor. Infected leaves can be raked up and destroyed or composted. CHEMICAL: None necessary.
Wilt, Verticillium dahliae	Fungi	Slow growth, dwarfed foliage and/or wilting. Leaves with scorched margins. Defoliation. Often occurs on only one part of the tree. Green to black vascular discoloration may be present in the sapwood of larger branches and the trunk. REFERENCE: Verticillium Wilt of Trees and Shrubs, AG-FO-1164 (MN), Deciduous Tree Diseases, PP-697 (ND).	Fertilize to promote growth; keep nitrogen to a minimum. Prevent moisture stress. Remove dead limbs. Do not plant susceptible tree species where Verticillium is present in the soil. CHEMICAL: None. NURSERY: Preplant fumigation.