What does a maple tree look like in autumn: description, types, and uses of maple foliage

Maple is a tree of astonishing beauty. There are approximately 150 species of these trees, which grow in every corner of the planet. They can be found in forests, gardens, and parks. Maples are beautiful at any time of year, but in autumn they put on a special, vibrant display.

General information about maples

Maples are deciduous trees. They can appear as shrubs. Their height ranges from 5 to 40 meters, and their main characteristic is their large, variegated foliage, which displays a striking variety of colors in autumn. In spring and summer, the trees bloom. Depending on the variety, their inflorescences can be:

• green;
• yellow;
• red.

Against the backdrop of large foliage, the vertical inflorescences appear almost invisible. When the fruits ripen, seeds appear inside them.

Places of growth

These undemanding trees grow in a variety of locations. Their habitat is broad:

• Eurasia;
• North America;
• Sumatra Island;
• Philippine Islands;
• Mediterranean coast;
• Japan;
• Malaysia;
• Chinese provinces.

These trees thrive in temperate climates and temperate zones. They can be planted in your garden and enjoyed year-round. Japanese and Chinese maples are heat-loving, but many species are adapted to winter cold and tolerate frost well.

Maples grow in mixed forests and parks—where broadleaf maple trees thrive. Sometimes they can be found in the company of conifers. Solid stands of maples are rare. If you're lucky enough to spot a large maple in autumn, you'll be captivated by its magnificent foliage, clad in a variety of colors.

What types of maples are there?

One of the most striking species of maple is the red maple. This tall tree reaches 10 to 20 meters in height, with a trunk width of 4 to 7 meters. It has a large, compact crown that grows quickly. The bark is dark gray, prone to peeling. Each leaflet has five lobes. When the foliage unfurls, it has a bronze sheen. In summer, it turns green, and in autumn, it delights the eye with its original and beautiful decoration. The leaves can be bright orange or purple above, and silvery-pink beneath. The fragrant red flowers begin to bloom before the foliage. In the wild, red maple can be found in North America or in wetlands.

The palmate (or fan) maple grows slowly. It is a low shrub, reaching 4 to 6 meters in height. The crown is rounded and broad, shaped like an umbrella. Young branches are purple-red or green. The leaves are lobed and graceful. In mature maples, their leaves are bright red. In the wild, palmate maples grow in China, Korea, and Japan.

A Manchurian species. It can reach a height of up to 20 meters. The crown is round and high, with delicately carved leaves. The bark on the trunk is gray and finely fissured. The leaves are trifoliate and complexly shaped, orange-red in spring, turning a deep green in summer. The Manchurian maple's autumn leaves are dark red. It is native to Korea and China. Manchurian maples also grow in Russia, in the Primorsky Krai.

The greenbark maple species appears as a tall shrub, reaching up to 15 meters in height. The crown is broad, lush, and spherical. The bark is decorative; on young trees, it is green. As the tree ages, the bark takes on a gray tint. In autumn, the foliage of this tree delights with a golden-yellow color. This species is native to the mixed forests of Korea, Primorsky Krai, and China.

The American (ash-leaved) species is asymmetrical and grows quickly, reaching 10 to 15 meters in height. The crown is broad and high, with a spread of 5-10 meters. The foliage is green in summer, turning yellow in autumn. It is native to central North America.

The bearded variety is a small shrub. Height ranges from 4 to 10 meters, with a spreading, lush crown. The leaves are five-lobed, pubescent, up to 10 cm long, and turn orange and yellow in autumn. Native to North Korea, China, and the Primorsky Krai region.

Description of autumn maple in our latitudes

Norway maples are the most common trees in Russia. They are graceful, reaching up to 30 meters in height. The trunk can be up to 1.5 meters wide. The leaves are five-lobed, with pointed tips and tight veins. In autumn, the tree delights the eye with a rich palette of purple-amber hues. After the leaves fall, seeds begin to fall to the ground, which will give birth to new trees in the spring.

Flowering time

Maple trees bloom in May. The flowers are usually yellowish-green. The blooming period lasts about 10 days. There are many folk beliefs associated with this time of year. It is believed that if the birch tree blooms before the maple, the summer will be dry. Early maple blooming is a harbinger of a rainy summer.

Maple tree foliage

It happens:

• simple;
• large;
• bladed;
• palmate.

It is the intricate shape of the leaves that creates a beautiful, carved, rounded crown. There are species with compound-palmate and trifoliate foliage—for example, the Manchurian tree or the species discovered by Maximovich.

Gardeners plant specimens whose foliage turns purple or bright gold in autumn. There's a variety called Crimson King, which even in winter has a purple crown with a violet tint. The Crimson Sentry variety has a pyramidal crown, and by autumn, its leaves darken and also turn purple-red. The Deborah variety is famous for its red foliage in summer, which turns bright yellow with an orange tint in autumn.

There are many variegated species. The Drummondii cultivar's foliage retains its dark green color until late autumn.

Scope of application

https://youtu.be/bkHxIc7XMHg

It's believed that real maple syrup is only found in Canada, but this isn't true. A Russian farm where maple trees are harvested for sap is located in the Leningrad Region, not far from St. Petersburg. Besides extracting sap, maple trees are used:

• for carving (this is a durable wood, ideal for decorative work);
• for the production of guitar, violin, and cello elements (craftsmen have long since discovered the acoustic qualities of maple);
• In apiaries, to attract bees. Maple honey is tasty and healthy.

Craftsmen also often use veneer obtained from the root part. It is used to apply patterns to a special type of furniture called marquetry. These natural patterns, when cut, appear as original designs, each one unique.

Medicinal properties of maple

In folk medicine, maple leaves and shoots are used as choleretic and diuretic agents. They are also effective antiseptics. Maple sap is used to treat scurvy and atherosclerosis. It strengthens the immune system and calms the nerves. A decoction of the leaves helps with liver and kidney diseases. Crushed maple leaves are effective in healing wounds, abrasions, and even deep cuts.

Autumn maple bouquet

It will be a beautiful addition to any room. It's best to collect the leaves early in the morning, right after they fall. At night, the wind tears them off and throws them to the ground. In the morning, they're still intact and untrampled by passersby, so you can use them to create a luxurious autumn bouquet.

Autumn maples are trees of astonishing beauty. You can gaze at them endlessly, photograph them, and create beautiful bouquets from the fallen leaves.