David Maple
Acer davidii
Sapindaceae, Aceraceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · introduced
Last updated
Cool maritime summers closely match this species' native habitat in Chinese mountain forests. Multiple extension sources (MBG, NC State) note best performance in cool summer climates such as the Pacific Northwest. May be difficult to source in the U.S. nursery trade. The species form may not be in cultivation; most nursery stock is seedlings sold as cultivars 'Ernest Wilson' or 'George Forrest' (OSU Landscape Plants). Related snakebark species A. pensylvanicum (native to eastern North America) and A. capillipes are also represented in the region. Shelter from cold drying winds is advisable.
Plant Profile
Size & Form
Height
30–50 ft
Spread
20-40 ft
Growth Rate
Moderate # sources conflict: osu/nc state say "fast"; van den berk "average"; hillier/mbg "moderate". ~6m in 10 years (bluebell nursery). using "moderate" as majority consensus.
Size at 20 yr
25-35 ft" # Estimated: ~20 ft at 10 years (Bluebell Nursery); growth slows with age. Source: Bluebell Nursery, Van den Berk
Lifespan
Moderate
Site Requirements
Light
Sun to Part Shade
Soil Drainage
Adaptable
Soil pH
5.5-7.5
Water
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Low
Hardiness
Zones 5a–8b
Ornamental Interest
Bloom Time
April
Fall Color
Golden, orange, red
Origin
China
Watch for this season
Powdery MildewHigh
Active Conidial Spread
Root Colonization Period
Wood DecayHigh
Wound Infection Window
AphidHigh
Peak Population & Dispersal
+ 9 more — see full disease and pest lists below
Diseases: Regionally Documented (17)
Verticillium dahliae Verticillium Wilt Rhytisma punctatum Tar Spots Multiple obligate biotrophic fungi (Erysiphales: Erysipha... Powdery Mildew Phyllosticta spp. Phyllosticta Leaf Spot Neonectria ditissima Nectria Canker Multiple possible causes (see Disease Cycle section) Fasciation Bacterial Leaf Spot and Dieback Discula destructiva (dogwood), Kabatiella and Discula spp... Anthracnose Kretzschmaria deusta Brittle Decay Multiple Basidiomycete fungi cause wood decay in trees Wood Decay Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Bigleaf Maple Decline (Bigleaf Maple Dieback) Phytophthora spp. (P Bleeding Canker Taphrina spp. Leaf Blister Symptom category — not a single disease Leaf Spot Phytophthora spp. (P Phytophthora Root Rot Cryptostroma corticale Sooty Bark Disease
Pests: Regionally Documented (13)
Vasates quadripedes Maple Bladdergall Mite Pulvinaria innumerabilis Cottony maple scale Aphidoidea Aphid Boisea rubrolineata Western boxelder bug Prionoxystus robiniae Carpenterworm Megachile spp. Leafcutting bee Proteoteras aesculana Maple tip moth (Maple twig borer) Lepidosaphes ulmi Oystershell scale Otiorhynchus spp. Root weevil Edwardsiana rosae Rose leafhopper Leucoma salicis Satin moth Frankliniella occidentalis Western flower thrips Proteoteras moffatiana Maple shoot moth
Phenological Calendar
View full calendar (8 stages)
| Stage | Typical Window |
|---|---|
| Bud swell BBCH 03 | Mar 1-Mar 20 |
| Leaf emergence BBCH 11 | Mar 15-Apr 10 |
| Beginning of flowering BBCH 61 | Apr 1-Apr 20 |
| Full bloom BBCH 65 | Apr 10-Apr 30 |
| End of flowering BBCH 69 | Apr 25-May 15 |
| Fruit development BBCH 71 | May 15-Aug 30 |
| Leaf senescence BBCH 93 | Oct 1-Nov 1 |
| Dormancy BBCH 97 | Nov 15-Feb 28 |
Cultivars (5)
'Ernest Wilson'
Round compact crown; conspicuously striped bark; small, unlobed, green leaves. From the northern part of the species' range. Introduced by Ernest Henry Wilson in 1907.
'George Forrest'
Open habit with large leaves (up to 18 cm x 13 cm); pink-red young stems; leaves reddish when unfolding then shiny dark green with rhubarb-red stalks; fiery orange autumn color. From southern Yunnan. RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Seedlings may be sold under the cultivar name but are not identical to the true clone.
'Serpentine'
Small, narrow leaves; more compact habit.
'Rosalie'
Purple-blue striped bark in winter, turning purple-green in summer. Ovate, shallowly-lobed dark green leaves, smaller than most selections. Orange-red autumn color. Pendent racemes of pale yellow flowers followed by pink-brown fruit. Selected from a 15m tree at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; introduced 1985. Propagated by grafting.
Reaches 10m height, 15m spread in 10-20 years.
'Karmen'
Distinctive narrow, acuminate-tipped chocolate-brown to bronze new leaves, turning green with age. Yellow to orange autumn color. Open-branched, often multi-stemmed, vigorous in youth. Conspicuously striated bark. Discovered as a chance seedling by Dutch dendrologist Piet de Jong in 1975; introduced by Plantentuin Esveld in 1985. Named for Karmen Rosalie van Gelderen.
Reaches approximately 10m tall.
Data Maturity Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.