East Asia is rich in many small maple species and this is one from China. I've driven by a line of Trident Maples along the exit road to a large shopping center for at least a decade without realizing what they were. A few years ago, I knew they were some kind of east Asian maple as Three-flower Maple or Amur Maple, but they aren't. This is a lovely looking species that is uncommon in the US. It is slow growing of about 1 foot/year. Actually, in its native wild habitat in China, it can get to 100 feet high, though 20 to 30 feet is normal, maybe to 40 feet, in eastern North American landscapes. It prefers slightly acid soils but can tolerate some alkaline a little above pH 7.0.

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