Acer davidii aka Father David's Maple

Taxonomy

Acer davidii, also known as Père David's maple, is a species of maple in the snakebark maple group. It is native to China, from Jiangsu south to Fujian and Guangdong, and west to southeastern Gansu and Yunnan. The tree was originally discovered by a Chinese person lost to history, but French priest Armand David, who was in Central China as a missionary, took the credit. It was later re-discovered by Charles Maries during his visit to Jiangsu in 1878. Acer davidii is a small deciduous tree that can grow to 10-15m tall with a trunk up to 40cm in diameter. It usually has multiple trunks and a spreading crown of long, arching branches. The bark is smooth, olive-green with regular narrow pale vertical stripes on young trees, eventually becoming dull grey-brown at the base of old trees. The leaves are dark green above, paler below, ovate, unlobed or weakly three-lobed, with a serrated margin, 6-18cm long and 4-9cm broad, and a petiole 3-6cm long. They turn to bright yellow, orange or red in the autumn. The flowers are small, yellow, with five sepals and petals about 4mm long, produced on arching to pendulous 7-12cm racemes in late spring, with male and female flowers on different racemes. The samara nutlets are 7-10mm long and 4-6mm broad, with a wing 2-3cm long and 5mm broad. Père David's maple is a super rare houseplant that is not challenging to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. It does best in long-lasting, direct light and should be less than 1 foot from a window. The plant prefers soil that is good at retaining moisture, and it shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size. Père David's maple belongs to the Acer genus and is native to China to Myanmar.

Common names

Father David's Maple, Pre David's Maple, Snakebark Maple

How to care for Father David's Maple

Difficulty

Father David's Maple presents a moderate level of care, which allows plant enthusiasts with some experience to expand their skills and knowledge.

Water

Father David's Maple should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Father David's Maple requires special care to keep it thriving. Its sensitivity to dry soil means that you need to be especially careful when it comes to selecting the right potting soil. Look for a soil that will retain moisture, but is also well-draining. A good potting soil should have plenty of organic material, such as coco coir or sphagnum moss, which will help to keep the soil moist and provide extra nutrition for your plant. When planting your Snakebark Maple, make sure to mix the soil with some compost or manure to give it an extra boost of nutrients. Additionally, you should water your plant often to ensure that the soil remains moist. With the right care and attention, your Father David's Maple will bloom beautifully in your home.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the Father David's Maple prefers bright diffused light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Toxicity

The toxicity level of this plant has not been officially confirmed by Ploi. If there is a possibility of ingestion of plant material with an uncertain toxicity by you, a family member, or a pet, it is advisable to seek the assistance of a medical professional.

Fertilizer

The growth rate of Father David's Maple is slow and it doesn't necessitate additional fertilizing. By changing the soil in its pot annually, the plant should be provided with adequate nutrition. It is crucial to keep in mind that plants derive their energy from the sun, not fertilizers.


More info:
Wikipedia