Acer pentaphyllum - Chinese maple

Acer pentaphyllum, or five-leaved maple, is a Chinese tree, rare in cultivation and endangered in the wild. It has a beautiful upright, transparent, flexible habit, and is characterised by leaves composed of 5 slender leaflets. In autumn, its foliage turns fiery red before falling. It is not very hardy and will thrive in the understory, in the shade of larger trees, in a rich humus soil that remains moist but well-drained, and protected from cold winds.

The five-leaved maple belongs to the botanical family Sapindaceae (which has absorbed the former family of maples, Aceraceae). Originating from China, specifically from the provinces of Guizhou, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Sichuan, this species grows in mixed forests, valleys, and slopes, at altitudes ranging from 1000 to 2000 metres. It is a deciduous small tree that can reach between 3 and 5 metres in height in our climates, up to 10 metres in the wild. Its spread reaches 2.50 to 5 metres. It has a grey-brown bark, smooth when young, which becomes slightly fissured and scaly with age. Its branches are slender and greyish, slightly drooping, and its winter buds are reddish-brown. The leaves of Acer pentaphyllum are opposite on the branches and generally have five leaflets, hence its name. They are oval to elliptical, measuring between 8 and 15 cm in length, and have finely toothed edges. In spring, they emerge with a bronze tint, then become dark green and shiny in summer, before turning to magnificent autumn colours ranging from yellow to scarlet red. The flowers of this maple are yellow-green, arranged in drooping panicles, and appear in spring after the leaves. They are followed by winged fruits, which ripen in autumn. The samaras of Acer pentaphyllum are green when immature, then turn brown when mature. They measure about 2 to 3 cm in length and are arranged in hanging clusters. Birds and squirrels also appreciate the seeds as a source of food.

Reserve a special place for this collector's maple, in isolation, at the edge of an understory, where you will have the opportunity to admire it. However, Acer pentaphyllum can also be planted in different areas of the garden depending on the desired effect. It can be used as a specimen tree on a slightly shaded lawn to highlight its elegant silhouette and colourful foliage. It can also be planted in groups with Japanese maples and flowering dogwoods, to vary the texture and colour of the foliage. Shade-loving perennial plants and ferns can be used to cover the ground around this small tree and add diversity to the garden. Among the plants that can be associated with Acer pentaphyllum are fragrant hostas or astilbes for their light panicle flowers and dissected foliage.