Trident Maple

Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum) is the maple for gardens that are too hot, dry or windy for the delicate Japanese sorts. It grows to about 8m tall and 6m wide, with glossy three lobed leaves that turn orange and red in autumn, and older trunks develop a handsome patchwork of flaking bark. Add non-invasive roots and you have one of the most practical shade trees a suburban block can carry.

Why you'll love it

• A maple with a work ethic. Heat tolerant, drought tolerant once established, wind tolerant and frost hardy, it succeeds on sites that scorch fussier maples.
• Reliable autumn colour. The small glossy leaves colour through yellow, orange and red before dropping, a genuine seasonal event in the right climate.
• Roots you can trust. Non-invasive roots make it a safe canopy tree near driveways, paths and garden beds.
• Sized for real gardens. At about 8m by 6m it delivers summer shade and winter sun without dominating the block.
• Character with age. The exfoliating orange brown bark becomes a feature in its own right on mature trunks.

Where it works best

Shade tree. Plant it where summer shade matters and winter sun is welcome: over a lawn, a north facing window or an outdoor dining area.

Driveways and avenues. Its neat rounded canopy repeats beautifully along a drive. Allow for the 6m spread so mature crowns just meet.

Feature planting and smaller gardens. With the canopy raised on a clear trunk, you can garden and walk beneath it, so it earns a place even where space is tight.

Growing Trident Maple in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the densest canopy and best colour. It is at home in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean climates. Autumn colour is strongest where autumn nights turn cold; in the humid subtropics and tropics it is not the right tree.

Soil. Adaptable to most soils with reasonable drainage, from sand to moderate clay, and more tolerant of compacted urban ground than most maples.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers. Once the roots are down it handles dry spells that would defoliate a Japanese maple. A complete slow release fertiliser each spring supports steady growth.

Pruning. Prune in winter while dormant: establish a single leader when young, lift the canopy as it grows, and remove crossing branches. It also takes clipping well.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Trident Maple in 300mm pots and as advanced 45L, 100L and 200L trees. The 300mm size is a young tree that establishes quickly and suits patient planters; the 45L is the popular middle ground; the 100L and 200L trees arrive with trunk, canopy and immediate effect.

It is deciduous, so trees shipped in the cooler months arrive bare and leaf out in spring, which is the easiest season for them to travel and transplant. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every tree is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our full range of trees
• Plants that change colour through the year
• The best trees for lining a driveway
• Japanese maple care for Australian gardens

Common questions

Will the roots lift my driveway?

No, trident maple is valued precisely because its roots are non-invasive. It is widely used as a street tree near paving. Standard practice still applies: keep the trunk about 2m from hard surfaces.

Will I get good autumn colour in a warm climate?

Colour depends on cool autumn nights. Cool temperate and inland gardens see the full orange red display; mild coastal warm temperate gardens get a softer yellow orange turn.

How fast does it grow?

Moderately: roughly 40cm to 60cm a year in good conditions once established. Expect a useful shade canopy within six to eight years from a 45L tree.

Can I keep it smaller than 8m?

Yes. It responds well to winter pruning and can be held at 5m to 6m indefinitely, and it is one of the classic bonsai and pleaching species for exactly that reason.