Acer davidii Viper®
Père David's Maple is a small deciduous tree growing to 10?15 m tall with a trunk up to 40 cm in diameter. It has a spreading crown of long arching branches. The bark is smooth, olive-green with regular narrow pale vertical stripes on young trees. The leaves are dark green above and paler below. They turn to bright yellow, orange or red in the autumn. The flowers are small, yellow, with five sepals and petals about 4 mm long.
Flowering period
Planting period
About this plant
Maple Acer
Maples (Acer) form a large genus of trees and shrubs, nearly all from the northern hemisphere and many from China. They range from small multi-stemmed trees to large shade trees. Their opposite, usually lobed leaves, colourful young growth, winged fruits and above all their fiery autumn colours make them garden classics.
Location and soil
Maples grow best in sun or partial shade, in deep, fertile soil that stays moist but drains well. Many species accept lime, but the snakebark maples prefer lime-free, humus-rich soil. Most are very hardy and need no winter protection.
Pruning and care
Plant preferably in autumn and keep the soil moist during the first two summers; a mulch layer helps. Maples need little pruning: remove dead or crossing branches between December and February or in June, but never in early spring, when the sap rises and cuts bleed. They are rarely troubled by pests or diseases.
Characteristics
Botanical
| Family | Sapindaceae |
| Genus | Acer |
| Species | davidii |
| Cultivar | 'Mindavi' |
| Trade name | Viper® |
Flowering
| Flowering period | april |
| Colour (flower) | yellow |
Foliage
| Evergreen | no |
| Colour (foliage) | green |
| Autumn colour | yellow, orange, red |
Growth habit
| Height | 500 cm, 1000 cm |
Location
| Winter hardiness | -25 °C |
| Soil type | acid |
| Location | sun, half shade |
| Soil moisture | normal |
Use
| Type (use) | shrub, tree/standard, solitary |