Appearance

Growth form

A small tree or multi-stemmed shrub, usually 15–30 ft (5–9 m) tall.

Leaves

Most leaves are oval and unlobed or only shallowly lobed, with coarse teeth along the edge.

Flowers

Small greenish-white flowers stand in clusters in spring.

Fruit

The paired winged fruits can turn red and mature from summer into fall; their seeds are carried by wind.

Look-alikes

Amur mapleAcer ginnala

Amur maple usually has a long, distinct middle leaf lobe. Typical Tatar maple has mostly unlobed or shallowly lobed leaves; young shoots can overlap, so a single leaf may not settle it.

Why they get mixed up · Both are small maples with red winged fruits, and some references place Amur maple within Tatar maple.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Gardens and landscapes

Range

Native from southeastern Europe into western Asia and planted in parts of the United States, especially cooler regions.

Preferred conditions

It grows best in sun or partial shade and well-drained soil.

Name and classification

About the name

Amur maple (Acer ginnala) is sometimes classified as a subspecies of Tatar maple. Its named subspecies include the European and western Asian subsp. tataricum, the small-leaved Central Asian subsp. semenovii, and the Chinese subsp. theiferum.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

LCLeast Concern·Low risk of extinction

Status

Minnesota lists Tatarian maple as a specially regulated plant; sellers must provide instructions to control seedlings and keep plantings away from natural areas.