Amur "Flame" Maple Tree

Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala 'Flame'

The Amur Flame Maple is a spectacular, compact deciduous tree legendary for its reliable, blazing fiery-red autumn display. A highly adaptable and exceptionally cold-hardy selection, this small multi-stemmed maple features glossy three-lobed leaves that transition from fresh summer green to intense shades of scarlet, orange, and gold as temperatures drop. Beyond its fall majesty, it graces the spring landscape with fragrant, creamy-white flower clusters, followed by highly ornamental, showy red winged seeds (samaras) that decorate the canopy through the summer.

Ideal for smaller residential yards, urban spaces, and vibrant privacy screens, the Amur Flame Maple delivers immense seasonal drama, structural versatility, and rugged environmental resilience without overwhelming your landscape.

Mother Nature's Endorsement

How this native powerhouse pays it forward to your local ecosystem.

• Pollinator Welcome Wagon: The fragrant spring blooms act as an early-season nectar source, drawing in bees, butterflies, and beneficial insect life.

• The Avian Rest Stop: Dense, multi-stemmed branching provides exceptional nesting sites, while summer seed clusters offer a reliable pantry for local songbirds.

• Micro-Climate Comfort: Its beautifully rounded, compact canopy delivers localized shade, cooling patio areas or smaller garden beds naturally.

• Soil Stabilizer: An adaptable root network works efficiently to anchor soil structure and resist erosion along slopes, banks, or garden boundaries.

The Honest Harvest

What to expect when welcoming this legacy tree to your land.

The Perks:

• An unmatched, jaw-dropping autumn display featuring some of the most intense scarlet-red foliage available.

• Exceptional cold hardiness, shrugging off sub-zero winters and harsh northern climates with ease.

• Highly versatile growth habit that performs beautifully as a standalone specimen, a dense privacy hedge, or a windbreak.

• Boasts excellent urban tolerance, easily handling difficult clay soils, air pollution, and occasional drought once established.

• Naturally compact frame makes it safe for smaller properties and suitable for planting under power lines.

The Caveats:

• Features a rapid early growth rate of 2–3 feet per year, requiring intentional structural shaping if you prefer a single-trunk tree form.

• Pruning must be restricted to mid-to-late summer; cutting branches in winter or early spring causes the tree to heavily bleed sap.

• The showy red samaras eventually drop, resulting in light garden cleanup if situated directly over tidy patios.

• Thrives best in areas with cool summer climates, showing less intense fall colors in hot, humid southern zones.

• Due to its prolific seed production, check local planting guidelines as it can be enthusiastic in specific midwestern forest edges.

Specifications

Planting & Care Guide

• Initial Soak: Ground-saturate the root ball thoroughly both before and right after planting to kickstart establishment.

• Handle with Care: Dig a shallow, wide planting hole to accommodate its spreading roots, ensuring it is planted level with the surrounding soil line.

• Mulch Magic: Spread a 3-inch layer of organic mulch around the base to retain consistent moisture, taking care to pull it away from the direct trunks.

• Establishment Era: Provide even, regular watering during its first two growing seasons; it gains incredible drought resilience once fully rooted.

• Easy Grooming: Prune exclusively in mid-to-late summer after leaves are fully developed to shape the canopy and avoid seasonal sap bleeding.

• Light Feed: Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring if growth slows, though this tough maple thrives easily in average soil profiles.

The Amur Flame Maple is a fiery, compact power-performer engineered to bring unrivaled seasonal color to properties of any size. Perfectly tailored for tight spaces, it balances easy-going care with an autumnal grand finale that makes it a spectacular, long-lasting investment for your home landscape.