Acer truncatum Shantung maple

Acer truncatum ‘Fire Dragon’ in fall, Encina Hall. Sairus Patel, 27 Nov 2024

Flower clusters of Acer truncatum ‘Fire Dragon’, Encina Hall. Sairus Patel, 25 Mar 2024

Tolerant to heat and drought, Shantung maple is a relatively new experiment on campus. See a pair of the Fire Dragon cultivar in the courtyard behind Encina Hall, near the east entrance. New leaves emerging in spring are a tender green. Sizeable clusters of yellow-green flowers turn into similarly colored samaras or winged seeds. The samaras turn pink as fall approaches. The 5-lobed star-like leaves (reminiscent of sweetgum’s) develop rich tones of scarlet, vermilion, and gold.