Acer davidii

Père David’s maple is in the soapberry or Sapindaceae family and is native to the Sichuan Province of China, and is a fast growing, medium-sized tree, reaching around 15 m tall.

t is in the snakebark group of maples identified by: Snakeskin-like bark; buds on stocks, 1 pair of scales; flowers (and double samaras) on pendulous racemes.

• Leaves are 6–18 cm long and 4–9 cm broad, on long petioles( 3–6 cm); they are dark green above, paler below, ovate, unlobed or weakly three-lobed, with a serrated margin. They turn to bright yellow, orange or red in the autumn.
• Flowers are small, yellow, with five sepals and petals about 4 mm long, connected in long racemes (7–12 cm) in late spring, with male and female flowers on different racemes.
• Double samara seeds are clothes hanger-shaped, pinkish red when ripe.