Shantung Maple

Shantung Maple (Acer truncatum) is the maple for gardeners who have watched other maples scorch. It makes a rounded shade tree of about 7m tall and 5m wide, colours orange and red through autumn, and unlike most of the genus it takes real heat and dry spells once established. The root system is compact and well behaved, so it can sit near a driveway or path without lifting it.

Why you'll love it

• Autumn colour that earns its keep. The lobed leaves turn yellow, then orange and red, holding on the tree for several weeks before dropping.
• Heat and drought tolerant. One of the toughest maples available here, comfortable through a dry summer that would crisp a Japanese maple.
• Roots that stay out of trouble. Compact and non-invasive, which is rare in a shade tree of this size.
• The right scale for a suburban block. At 7m by 5m it shades a courtyard or a car space without overwhelming a small garden.

Where it works best

Feature and shade tree. Its natural dome makes it a strong single specimen in a lawn or front garden, and the canopy casts genuine shade by year four or five.

Driveways and avenues. Allow 5m to 6m between trees so each canopy develops fully. Any tighter and they merge into an uneven line rather than a rhythm.

Small gardens. Deciduous habit is the advantage here: shade over summer, then bare branches that let winter sun through to the house.

Growing Shantung Maple in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the best autumn colour, with part shade acceptable in hotter inland gardens. This is a tree for cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean climates, from Melbourne and Adelaide through the tablelands to Perth. It is frost hardy and wind tolerant. Humid subtropical and tropical gardens are not its country, because the colour needs cool autumn nights to develop.

Soil. Well drained soil of any reasonable type, slightly acidic to neutral. On heavy clay, plant slightly high and work compost through a wide bed.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers while the roots go down, then taper off. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough. Keep 75mm of mulch over the root zone and clear of the trunk.

Pruning. Almost none required. Remove crossing or damaged branches in late winter while the tree is bare, and lift the lower limbs only for walking clearance.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in 400mm, 45L, 100L and 200L. The 400mm and 45L plants are young trees, usually well under head height, and they establish fastest because the root ball is in proportion to the top. The 100L and 200L sizes are for gardeners who want presence now, and they cost more up front.

If it arrives in winter it may be bare, with no leaves at all. That is dormancy, not damage, and buds break in spring. Expect around 30 to 50cm of growth a year once settled. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every tree carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Maple care basics for Australian gardens
• Browse trees and shrubs with autumn colour
• Trees with non-invasive roots for near paving
• Compare the wider deciduous tree range

Common questions

Will it colour up in a warm climate?

It needs cool autumn nights for the strongest reds, so gardens in the southern states and the tablelands get the best display. In warmer temperate gardens the colour still comes, but leans yellow and orange.

Is it safe to plant near a driveway or pipes?

Yes, this is one of the better maples for that job because the roots are compact and non-invasive. Leave about 2m of clearance from hard surfaces as sensible practice.

How much water does it need once established?

Far less than most maples. After two summers of regular deep watering it handles normal dry spells, though a soak in an extended heatwave prevents leaf edges browning.