Trident Maple is a Good Looking Small Tree

The Trident Maple is a good choice for a small yard tree growing in full sun in Zones 5 through 8. This is a well behaved tree with few pest problems, a rounded canopy that requires no pruning, and no surface root problems. The Latin name is Acer buergerianum.

When grown in full sun, the tree reaches 25-35 feet. When grown in partial shade, the tree can reach 60 feet. The canopy spread can be 25-30 feet. The leaves are green during the growing and turn to the characteristic orange, red, and yellow shades in the fall. This maple colors later than others and can extend the fall color season.

The shorter height of the Trident Maple means it will not overgrow its space in city yards, in landscaped parking lots, in areas bordering recreational spaces, or along city and suburban streets. This tree is also a good option to provide shade for a residential patio or deck area.

The trees are shallow rooted, so companion planting should take that into consideration. The tree is often seen planted as a specimen tree or in row with adequate space between trees. The Trident Maple survives transplanting, poor soil conditions, and the compacted soil found in many playgrounds and many backyards.

The slow to medium growth rate makes the Trident Maple a popular choice for bonsai. The Bonsai Learning Center believes Trident Maple is the best choice of all the maples because it thrives in "container conditions." The tree's drought tolerance and shallow roots are also helpful for bonsai.

The leaf shape is a defined three lobe pattern resembling a trident, or a duck's foot. The leaf size ranges from 1 1/2-3 1/2 inches wide.

On older trees, the bark has a shedding tendency that reveals trunk colors ranging from gray, to orange, to brown. The first branching can occur quite low on the trunk which gives the tree a multi-trunk appearance. When a single trunk is preferred, the tree responds well to pruning.

Trident Maples tolerate clay soil, as well as loam and sandy soils. They prefer moist but well-drained conditions. Growers recommend planting in acidic soil conditions because maples can develop chlorosis when the pH is over 7.

Chlorosis means that leaves are not producing enough chlorophyll. One symptom is weak leaf color. The cause can be a lack of soil minerals or too high alkalinity. The soil should be tested to determine which nutrients should be added to alleviate the chlorosis.

For best results, purchase a Trident Maple that was grown in the same climatic zone where it will be planted.

Sources
http://www.maple-trees.com/pages/trident-maple.php, MapleTrees.com
http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/ACEBUEA.pdf, University of Florida
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=329, Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation