Without the diverse maple species, the world would be a barren place. From Europe to America, from Asia to Australia, the maple genus enriches forests, avenues, parks and gardens. Reason enough to take a closer look at the fascinating cosmopolitan. This profile provides a colorful series of details worth knowing about the maple tree.

Many maple varieties turn an impressive red in autumn

Botanical systematics and appearance

For the interested home gardener, important information about the suitability of the maple for the garden is hidden behind sober key data, such as growth height or winter hardiness. Of course, decorative aspects of appearance should not be missing, such as leaf shape or flowering time, as well as important criteria for the family garden, such as possible toxins. The following profile provides all the fundamental characteristics of the genus at a glance:

  • Genus name: Maples (Acer) with 150 to 200 species
  • Horse chestnut family (Hippocastanoideae)
  • Areas of distribution: Europe, North and Central America, Asia, North Africa to the tropics
  • Deciduous trees or shrubs
  • Growth heights from 80 cm to 30 m, rarely up to 40 m
  • Leaf shape: palmate, lobed several times, rarely imparipinnate
  • Foliage color: medium green, lighter underneath, yellow-orange to bright red in autumn
  • Flowering time in Europe: March/April to April/May with inconspicuous, yellow-green flowers
  • Winged split fruits in autumn
  • Poison Content: Sycamore seeds and sprouts deadly poisonous to horses and donkeys
  • Age: 200 to 500 years

In Europe, three native maple species and their cultivars dominate the picture. Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and field maple (Acer campestre) have asserted themselves in the local climate since the last ice age and are reliably frost hardy. Sloth maple (Acer palmatum) that migrated from Asia is still hardy enough to showcase itself in European gardens with compact growth and magnificent varieties.

Ingenious propagation strategy - fruits with a fun factor

The maple tree uses a sophisticated propagation strategy that also increases its popularity among children. So that the fruits cover the largest possible radius, they are equipped with two wings. These protrude from the nuts at an acute or obtuse angle. On the one hand, this aerodynamic shape causes long-range transport with the wind and, on the other hand, a worthwhile auto-rotation during descent, reminiscent of small helicopters.

Before the ripe fruits and their wings split in half, they serve as funny nose-tweezers for children. A single maple tree is enough to rejuvenate a 10,000 m² area with offspring. Resourceful home gardeners harvest the seeds to use them for targeted propagation.

A jewel for the garden and balcony - tips on possible uses

The maple genus gives us a varied mixture of magnificent species and varieties for creative garden design. We have compiled an excerpt of imaginative possible uses for you below:

  • Majestic eye-catcher for the extensive park and large garden: sycamore and Norway maple
  • Elegant house tree for the front yard: spherical maple Globosum or spherical maple Nanum
  • Decorative privacy and wind protection hedge: field maple (measure holder) or ornamental field maple Red Shine
  • Attractive container plant: Asian slotted maple with furious varieties such as the dark red 'Dissectum Garnet'

Almost all members of the genus are suitable for bonsai cultivation. Sycamore has the potential to become an impressive outdoor bonsai for beds and balconies. Pruning-compatible field maple forgives the beginner in the art of bonsai so many beginner's mistakes. Japanese maple is predestined for bonsai for indoors and outdoors thanks to its fine branching, filigree leaves and bright leaf colors.

Ecologically valuable - maple is more than just a pretty backdrop

Limiting the maple to its decorative function does not do justice to its importance for nature. The interesting genus makes a valuable contribution to the ecological balance in many ways:

  • The yellow-green to reddish flowers serve as a much-swarmed pasture for bees and butterflies
  • Roots close to the surface thoroughly loosen the soil
  • Autumn leaves quickly decompose into rich humus

Shrubby maple species, such as field maple, gather in dense hedges that carry their leaves for a long time. Birds, insects and small animals know how to use this to breed here or seek protection from predators and the winter cold.

Maple syrup - sweet temptation

In North America and Canada, maple syrup is a staple in the kitchen. In Europe, the sugar-sweet, sticky juice is becoming increasingly popular with young and old to enjoy with small pancakes, muffins, ice cream or in drinks. The sweet temptation is obtained from the Canadian maple, also known as the sugar maple. For this purpose, the trunk is drilled and the sap that flows out is collected.

The main supplier of maple syrup is Canada with more than 80 percent of the world production. Maple trees are so important to this country that a red maple leaf adorns the national flag.

tips

One of the most striking maple trees in Germany can be seen in Hamburg. The sycamore maple in the deer park is 200 to 220 years old and around 25 meters high. With a crown width of a whopping 36 meters, the giant exceeds the average volume by more than twice. The mighty trunk is richly branched and measured an impressive 6.39 meters in circumference when it was last measured in 2012.

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Trees