Acer
Also known as: Maple
99 types of acer
Acer barbinerve
also: Bearded Maple
Small East Asian maple with bristly-veined leaves.
Acer buergerianum
also: Trident Maple
Three-lobed leaves and attractive flaking bark; excellent bonsai subject.
Acer calcaratum
Uncommon Southeast Asian maple.
Acer campbellii wilsonii
also: Wilson's Maple
Himalayan maple with large palmate leaves.
Acer campestre
also: Common Maple, Field Maple, Hedge Maple
European hedgerow maple; tolerates hard pruning.
Acer capillipes
also: Red Snakebark Maple, Snake-bark Maple
Striped green-and-white bark and red new growth.
Acer carpinifolium
also: Hornbeam Maple, Zig-Zag Tree
Unusual maple with hornbeam-like non-lobed leaves.
Acer caudatifolium
also: Kawakami Maple
Taiwanese snakebark maple.
Acer caudatum 'Ukurunduense'
also: Arahaga Maple, Ukurundu Maple
Small maple with upright flower spikes.
Acer circinatum
also: Vine Maple
Pacific NW native with brilliant fall color; often multi-stemmed. De-winged seed.
Acer cissifolium
also: Ivy-leaved Maple, Vine-leaved Maple
Trifoliate leaves resemble ivy or grape.
Acer davidii
also: Pere David's Maple, Snakebark Maple
Striking green-and-white striped bark. De-winged seed.
Acer davidii grosseri
also: Father David's Maple, Hers's Maple
Snakebark maple with excellent fall color. De-winged seed.
Acer elegantulum
also: Elegant Maple
Chinese maple with graceful form.
Acer fabri
also: Emerald Jade Maple, Faber's Maple
Evergreen or semi-evergreen maple with lance-shaped leaves.
Acer ginnala
also: Amur Maple
Small hardy maple with fragrant flowers and brilliant red fall color.
Acer glabrum douglasii
also: Douglas Maple, Dwarf Maple
Small Western North American maple.
Acer griseum
also: Paperbark Maple
Cinnamon-colored peeling bark and trifoliate leaves.
Acer heldreichii ssp. trautvetteri
also: Red-bud Maple
Balkan maple with striking red buds.
Acer henryi
also: Henry's Maple
Trifoliate Chinese maple with pendulous flower catkins.
Acer hyrcanum
also: Balkan Maple, Hyrcanum Maple
Drought-tolerant southeastern European maple.
Acer japonicum
also: Full Moon Japanese Maple, Downy Japanese Maple
Rounded palmate leaves and superb fall color. Dry seed.
Acer japonicum 'Meigetsu'
Meigetsu Full-Moon Maple selection.
Acer japonicum 'Oisami'
Oisami Full-Moon Maple selection.
Acer japonicum aconitifolium
also: Downy Japanese Maple, Fern-leaved Full-Moon Maple
Deeply cut fern-like leaves; blazing fall color. Dry seed.
Acer mandshuricum
also: Manchurian Maple
Trifoliate hardy maple with brilliant red fall color.
Acer maximowiczianum
also: Nikko Maple
Trifoliate Japanese maple with excellent fall color. De-winged seed.
Acer micranthum
also: Komine Maple, Small-leaved Maple
Small-leaved Japanese maple with delicate form.
Acer mono
also: Painted Maple
East Asian maple with clear yellow fall color.
Acer monspessulanum
also: Montpellier Maple
Drought-tolerant Mediterranean maple with three-lobed leaves.
Acer negundo
also: Ash-leaved Maple, Ashleaf Maple, Box Elder, Boxelder, Manitoba Maple
Fast-growing tough maple with pinnate leaves.
Acer oblongum
also: Flying Moth Maple, Flying Moth Tree, Himalayan Maple
Semi-evergreen Himalayan maple with entire (unlobed) leaves.
Acer oliverianum
also: Oliver Maple
Graceful Chinese maple similar to Japanese maple with fine autumn color.
Acer palmatum
also: Japanese Maple
Classic Japanese Maple; the seed source for most named cultivars.
Acer palmatum 'Aka shigitatsu sawa'
Variegated pink and green Japanese maple selection.
Acer palmatum 'Atrolineare'
also: Atrolineare Japanese Maple, Ribbonleaf Japanese Maple
Strap-thin red leaves that look like ribbons. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Beni Otake'
also: Big Red Bamboo Japanese Maple
Long narrow burgundy leaves resembling bamboo. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'
also: Bloodgood Japanese Maple
Deep burgundy leaves that hold color well into summer.
Acer palmatum 'Burgundy Lace'
also: Burgundy Lace Japanese Maple
Deeply cut burgundy-purple leaves; upright habit.
Acer palmatum 'Chitoseyama'
also: Chitoseyama Japanese Maple
Cascading form with deeply cut purple-red leaves. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen'
also: Crimson Queen Japanese Maple
Weeping laceleaf; deep crimson leaves all season.
Acer palmatum 'Hogyoku'
also: Hogyoku Japanese Maple
Upright green Japanese maple with brilliant orange fall color. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Hubbs Red Willow'
also: Hubb's Red Willow Japanese Maple
Red-leaved narrow willow-leaf Japanese maple. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Inazuma'
also: Inazuma Japanese Maple, Thunder Japanese Maple
Cascading purple-red leaves turning crimson in fall.
Acer palmatum 'Ki hachijo'
also: Ki hachijo Japanese Maple, Kihachijo Japanese Maple
Green Japanese maple with brilliant orange-red fall color. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Kinran'
also: Kinran Japanese Maple
Red-purple laceleaf-type Japanese maple. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Koto-no-ito'
also: Harp Strings Japanese Maple, Koto-no-ito Japanese Maple
Extremely narrow linear leaflets giving a 'harp strings' texture. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Omurayama'
also: Omurayama Japanese Maple
Cascading habit with lacy green leaves and gold-orange fall color. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Oregon Sunset'
also: Oregon Sunset Japanese Maple
Compact upright red Japanese maple.
Acer palmatum 'Ornatum'
also: Laceleaf Japanese Maple
Classic bronze-red weeping laceleaf Japanese maple. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki'
also: Osakazuki Japanese Maple
Prized for its intense scarlet fall color. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Seiryu'
also: Seiryu Japanese Maple, Upright Laceleaf Japanese Maple
Only upright-growing laceleaf Japanese maple; green with orange-red fall color. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Shojo'
also: Shojo Japanese Maple
Deep purple-red leaves that hold color well.
Acer palmatum 'Sumi nagashi'
also: Sumi-nagashi Japanese Maple
Deep purple-red laceleaf Japanese maple.
Acer palmatum 'Trompenburg'
also: Trompenburg Japanese Maple
Distinctive rolled-edge deep red leaves; vigorous upright form. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum 'Tsukushigata'
also: Chikushigata Japanese Maple, Tsukushigata Japanese Maple
Dark red-purple leaved Japanese maple selection.
Acer palmatum 'Villa Taranto'
also: Villa Taranto Japanese Maple
Narrow-leaved Japanese maple; pink new growth aging to green then gold.
Acer palmatum amoenum
also: Japanese Maple
Larger-leaved botanical form of Japanese maple; strong grower.
Acer palmatum amoenum 'Ichigyoji'
also: Ichigyoji Japanese Maple
Large-leaved green Japanese maple with vivid yellow-orange fall color. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum amoenum 'Omato'
also: Omato Japanese Maple
Big-leaved green Japanese maple selection. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum atropurpureum
also: Red Japanese Maple
Purple-red leaved Japanese Maple strain.
Acer palmatum atropurpureum 'Emperor 1'
also: Red Emperor Japanese Maple
Vigorous red-leaved upright Japanese maple; leafs out late to avoid frost.
Acer palmatum atropurpureum 'Yezo Nishiki'
also: Yezo Nishiki Japanese Maple
Red-purple leaved Japanese maple selection. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum dissectum viridis
also: Green Lace-leaf Japanese Maple
Green weeping laceleaf Japanese maple. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum matsumurae
also: Matsumurae Japanese Maple
Larger-lobed botanical form of Japanese maple. De-winged seed.
Acer palmatum matsumurae 'O kagami'
also: O kagami Japanese Maple, Okagami Japanese Maple
Glossy dark red-purple leaves.
Acer palmatum var. atropurpureum 'Nuresagi'
also: Nuresagi Japanese Maple
Very dark purple-black leaves. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Autumn Fire'
also: Autumn Fire Japanese Maple
Weeping laceleaf Japanese maple with fiery fall color.
Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Inaba Shidare'
also: Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple
Weeping laceleaf that holds deep purple-red color well. Dry seed.
Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Tamukeyama'
also: Tamukeyama Japanese Maple
Weeping laceleaf holding deep burgundy through summer. Dry seed.
Acer pectinatum forrestii
also: Forrest's Maple, Snakebark Maple
Snakebark maple with striped bark and red petioles.
Acer pectinatum subsp. maximowiczii
also: Maximowicz's Snakebark Maple
Snakebark maple with striped green-and-white bark.
Acer platanoides
also: Norway Maple
Large shade tree with dense canopy and clear yellow fall color. Available de-winged or winged.
Acer pseudosieboldianum
also: Korean Maple
Cold-hardy alternative to Japanese maple with fine fall color.
Acer rubrum
also: Red Maple
Fast-growing shade tree with brilliant red fall color; tolerates wet soils.
Acer rubrum (Northern)
also: Red Maple - Northern seed source
Northern-sourced red maple; hardier for cold zones. Winged seed.
Acer rubrum (Selected)
also: Select Red Maple
Selected superior seed source of red maple.
Acer rubrum (Southern)
also: Drummond Red Maple, Drummond's Maple, Swamp Red Maple
Southern/Drummond red maple; tolerates wet swampy soils. Winged seed.
Acer rufinerve
also: Snakebark Maple
Green-and-white striped bark on young stems.
Acer saccharinum
also: Silver Maple, Soft Maple, Water Maple
Fast-growing large shade tree with deeply lobed silvery-backed leaves.
Acer saccharum (Northern, Zone 6)
also: Canada Maple, Northern Sugar Maple, Sugar Maple
Northern-source sugar maple for cold zones; classic maple syrup tree. De-winged seed.
Acer saccharum (Southern)
also: Sugar Maple
Southern-source sugar maple; better heat tolerance. Available de-winged or winged.
Acer saccharum ssp. leucoderme
also: Chalk Maple
Small southeastern US sugar maple with pale bark.
Acer shirasawanum
also: Full Moon Maple, Hinauchiwa Kaede
Rounded full-moon maple with excellent fall color. Dry seed.
Acer shirasawanum 'Ogurayama'
also: Ogurayama Full Moon Maple
Full moon maple selection with rich fall color.
Acer shirasawanum var. aureum
also: Yellow Moon Maple
Golden-leaved full moon maple. Dry seed.
Acer sieboldianum
also: Siebold Maple
Small Japanese maple with yellow flowers and fine fall color. Dry seed.
Acer sieboldianum 'Sode-No-Uchi'
also: Sode no uchi Siebold Maple
Dwarf Siebold maple selection.
Acer spicatum
also: Mountain Maple
Small understory maple with upright flower spikes.
Acer tataricum
also: Tartarian Maple
Tough, hardy small maple; drought-tolerant.
Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala
also: Amur Maple
Hardy subspecies with brilliant scarlet fall color; often multi-stemmed.
Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala 'Flame'
also: Flame Amur Maple
Selected form with especially vivid flame-red fall color.
Acer tegmentosum
also: Manchu Striped Maple
Snakebark maple with jade-green and white striped bark.
Acer tetramerum
also: Spike Leafed Maple
Small Chinese maple with narrow spike-shaped leaves.
Acer triflorum
also: Roughbark Maple, Three Flowered Maple
Trifoliate maple with peeling rough bark and outstanding orange-red fall color.
Acer truncatum
also: Purpleblow Maple, Shandong Maple, Shantung Maple
Tough, drought-tolerant Chinese maple with purple new growth and yellow-orange fall color.
Acer velutinum
also: Velvet Maple
Large Caucasian maple with velvety-hairy leaf undersides. De-winged seed.
Acer x freemanii
also: Freeman Maple, Freeman's Maple
Hybrid of red and silver maple; fast-growing shade tree with brilliant fall color. Dry seed.
Acer x freemanii Select Varieties
also: Freeman Maple
Seed from select Freeman maple cultivars. De-winged seed.
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
De-wing samaras if noted. Cold-stratify seed 30–120 days in damp sand or peat at 34–41°F (1–5°C). Sow in deep tree pots with well-drained mix. Keep evenly moist and in bright light after germination. Grow on 1–2 seasons before planting to a permanent site with a wide mulch ring.
Pre-sow treatment
30–120 days cold stratification at 34–41°F (1–5°C); some species need warm+cold double stratification.
Grower's tip
Maples range from tiny Japanese ornamentals to towering shade trees. Most need cold stratification; some benefit from warm+cold double stratification.
Soil preferences
Deep, well-drained native soil. Avoid amending the planting hole heavily — roots should learn to grow into the surrounding earth.
5.5–7.5 depending on species (conifers lean acidic; most hardwoods neutral).
Top-dress with compost and mulch in a wide ring; don't backfill with pure compost.
Watering
Deep soak weekly the first two years while roots establish; taper once the tree self-supports.
Slow trickle at the drip line, not the trunk. A 5-gal bucket with a pinhole is ideal.
Overwatered: yellowing, root rot, mushroom collar. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop.
Prefers top-watering — Trees are always top-watered — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering only makes sense for nursery seedlings.
Temperature tolerance
Broad — most species tolerate 40–90°F once established
Down to species-rated USDA zone minimum
Hardy once established; young seedlings need protection their first winter.
Special germination requirements
Most temperate tree seed needs cold stratification (30–120+ days at 34–41°F) — see each species entry for the exact time.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
Deep tree pots (root trainers) for the first 1–2 seasons; permanent site required for full growth.
Only dwarf, patio, or bonsai forms live long-term in containers.
Detailed harvesting
Not applicable for ornamental/timber trees. Nut and fruit species — pick when they drop naturally.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Nuts: keep damp and cool, sow promptly. Winged/coned seed: dry, cool, dark in a sealed jar.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Shade, windbreak, wildlife habitat, timber, ornament, and long-term carbon storage.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Wind- or insect-pollinated; seedlings rarely match the parent exactly (especially named cultivars — those must be grafted or cutting-grown).
Not practical for trees. Expect variation.
Collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean, dry or keep damp per species, then cold-stratify before spring sowing.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for acer in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
From your kitchen — grow acer from what you already have
Trees usually mean patience — collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean pulp off, and give most species a cold winter (real or in the fridge) before they'll germinate.
- 1Collect ripe seed/nuts/cones in autumn from a healthy parent.
- 2Clean off any fleshy pulp; dry cones warm to release seed.
- 3Cold-stratify in a bag of damp sand or peat in the fridge (34–41°F) for the time listed on the species.
- 4Sow in deep tree pots and grow on 1–2 seasons before planting to a permanent spot.
Storage: Most tree seed keeps 1–3 years cool and dry; oak/hickory/chestnut nuts must stay damp and be sown promptly.
My Acer notes
Acer seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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