Accession Count: 0
Common Name:
evergreen maple
Family Name:
Sapindaceae
Botanical Name:
Acer oblongum
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
The evergreen maple, also known as the Himalayan maple, is the only species of evergreen maple in the Sapindaceae family. It can grow up to 80ft in its natural habitat, but typically remains about 20-30ft in more urbanized environments. Characteristics of this maple include buttressed trunks, smooth to rough bark, and opposite, ovate leaves (1). The leathery leaves have a blueish-green underside and darker green upperside and can grow up to 7 inches long (5). Young shoots are a reddish bronze color. The whitish-green hermaphrodite flowers grow in clusters and are about 0.16 inches wide. This tree blooms in spring and the fruit ripens in October through November (1). The fruits produced are classified at samaras, a winged type of achene, and are typically about an inch long (4).
Compound:
Ace obl
Geographic Origin:
Asia
Ecozone Origin:
Neotropic
Biome Origin:
Temperate and Subtropical Forests
Natural History:
: Not much is known about the history of this tree, however we know it was originally introduced to Europe in 1824, and a hardier variety was introduced 1901 by Henry Wilson. There currently grows a tree from one of his introduced seeds at Kew, in London (5). This tree is native to central, eastern, and southeastern Asia, as well as parts of Tibet, India, and Japan. The evergreen maple prefers humid climates and naturally grows at an elevation of about 600-3000 m (2,000-6,600ft (1).
Cultivation Notes:
This tree is fairly easy to cultivate. It prefers full sun to partial shade and thrives in moist, well-drained soil. While this tree is somewhat cold sensitive, it does will in zones 6-9, making it an ideal plant to be cultivated in Arizona (2). This species of tree is prone to an iron deficiency when grown in alkaline soils but is otherwise quite tolerant to various soil types. The evergreen maple is a bad companion plant as it inhibits the growth of nearly every nearby plant. To cultivate this tree, there are many options. Seeds can be sewn while they are still green and will germinate directly into the ground. To germinate ripe seeds, soak them for 24 hours before stratifying them form 2-4 months at 1-8°C. This tree can also be grown from cuttings dipped in a rooting hormone, or by grafting a cutting onto a different maple variety; Acer buergerianum, aka the trident maple (3).
Ethnobotany:
This species has no known culinary or medicinal uses. Its leaves have been used to preserve harvested apples and root crops, such as potatoes. Its wood is close-grained & moderately hard, making it suitable for some agricultural implements and tools, as well as some construction & hand-carving.
Height:
20 - 50 feet
Width:
16 - 20 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Color:
Green
Function:
Shade
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
Citations:
1) Philips, Roger (1979). Trees of North America and Europe. New York: Random House, Inc. ISBN 0-394-50259-0. Retrieved November 29, 2024
2) Oregon State CALS Landscape plants Retrieved November 29, 2024
