FLASH SALES: discover new special offers every week!
Share your pictures? Hide split images
I have read and agree the terms and conditions of service.
New arrival

Acer pentaphyllum - Chinese maple

Acer pentaphyllum
Chinese maple, five-lobe maple

Be the first to leave a review

Why not try an alternative variety in stock?

47
From €3.70 8/9 cm pot

Available in 6 sizes

64
From €8.90 8/9 cm pot

Available in 3 sizes

10
From €4.90 10cm/11cm pot
8
20% €60.00 €75.00 7.5L/10L pot

Available in 2 sizes

12
€37.50 3L/4L pot

Available in 4 sizes

11
€43.50 4L/5L pot

Available in 2 sizes

1
€37.50 3L/4L pot

Available in 2 sizes

Available to order
From €109.00 7.5L/10L pot

Available in 2 sizes

1
€37.50 3L/4L pot
24
From €3.30 Bare root

Available in 5 sizes

6
€65.00 7.5L/10L pot
36
€65.00 7.5L/10L pot
5
€37.50 3L/4L pot

Available in 2 sizes

1
€129.00 7.5L/10L pot

Available in 2 sizes

22
€6.50 Bare root

Available in 4 sizes

Schedule delivery date,

and select date in basket

This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

More information

A graceful and natural Chinese maple, recognisable by its compound leaves made up of five slender green leaflets that turn beautiful autumn colours. This maple prefers moist, well-drained, humus-rich soils, and tolerates shade to partial shade. It can be used as a specimen tree or in groups in a garden. It is a rare and delicate species with a cold resistance that does not exceed -10 °C.
Flower size
1 cm
Height at maturity
4.50 m
Spread at maturity
2.50 m
Exposure
Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -9°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
plantfit-full

Does this plant fit my garden?

Set up your Plantfit profile →

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time March to May, September to October
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Flowering time April to May
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Description

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.

 

Acer pentaphyllum - Chinese maple in pictures

Acer pentaphyllum - Chinese maple (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 4.50 m
Spread at maturity 2.50 m
Habit spreading
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour insignificant
Flowering time April to May
Inflorescence Corymb
Fruit colour green

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green

Botanical data

Genus

Acer

Species

pentaphyllum

Family

Sapindaceae

Other common names

Chinese maple, five-lobe maple

Origin

China

Product reference21930

Other Acer - Maple tree

11
€43.50 4L/5L pot

Available in 2 sizes

3
From €75.00 7.5L/10L pot

Available in 2 sizes

6
From €75.00 7.5L/10L pot
8
€29.50 2L/3L pot

Available in 2 sizes

3
€65.00 6L/7L pot
6
€55.00 2L/3L pot

Available in 2 sizes

7
€59.00 3L/4L pot
4
From €49.00 4L/5L pot
5
€37.50 3L/4L pot

Available in 2 sizes

Out of stock
From €7.90 Bare root

Available in 4 sizes

Planting and care

Acer pentaphyllum should be planted in the spring or autumn in fertile, well-drained soil, preferably acidic to neutral (non-calcareous), deep and moist, rich in humus, in a partially shaded position. Avoid morning sun exposure that could destroy the buds in late winter frosts. It requires the soil to remain moist throughout the year, without being waterlogged. Beware of strong winds. Keep the soil moist during the first two summers after planting. Mulching can be beneficial to maintain good soil moisture.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time March to May, September to October

Intended location

Suitable for Woodland edge
Type of use Free-standing
Hardiness Hardy down to -9°C (USDA zone 8b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Partial shade
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Deep, well-drained, humus-bearing.

Care

Pruning instructions Acer pentaphyllum generally does not require pruning. However, light pruning can be done to remove dead, diseased or damaged branches, or to control its size. Proceed in winter, when the tree is dormant.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time October to December
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

This item has not been reviewed yet - be the first to leave a review about it.

Leave a review →

Shrubs for semi-shade

Available to order
From €39.50 7.5L/10L pot

Available in 2 sizes

10
From €16.50 2L/3L pot
8
€32.50 3L/4L pot
5
€65.00 4L/5L pot
Available to order
From €12.50 2L/3L pot

Available in 2 sizes

Available to order
From €3.90 Bare root

Available in 2 sizes

2
From €14.90 4L/5L pot
5
From €39.50 7.5L/10L pot

Available in 3 sizes

6
€12.50 2L/3L pot

Haven't found what you were looking for?

We only deliver seed and bulb products to your country. If you add other products to your basket, they cannot be shipped.