Terrestrial invasive species

Nature

Most of these invasive plant factsheets are created from the booklet Minnesota invasive non-native terrestrial plants, an identification guide for resource managers.

Check the additional resources and herbicides table for more information.

Amur maple (Acer ginnala)



Description:

Appearance: Amur maple is a small tree up to 20' high with a broad crown, but sometimes pruned as a hedge. Twigs are smooth and light colored.

Leaves: Opposite, longer than wide and have three shallow lobes and double toothed edges, turning a brilliant red in fall.

Flowers: Fragrant flowers appear in loose clusters with young leaves in May and June.

Fruit: Numerous reddish, two-winged, inch long fruit mature in late summer.

Ecological Threat:

  • It displaces native shrubs and understory trees in open woods, and shades out native grasses and herbaceous plants in savanna habitat.
  • A prolific seed producer, Amur maple is becoming invasive in the northern U.S. Extensive wild populations have been found in Illinois and Missouri. It resprouts easily from the cut stump.
  • Amur maple is a native of central and northern China, Manchuria and Japan, it was introduced to North America in the 1860s. It is still being frequently sold commercially as an ornamental, and for wildlife and shelterbelt plantings.

Control Methods:

Mechanical
Prescribed burning will set it back but not eliminate it
Grubbing out small infestations

Chemical
Cut-stump treatment with glyphosate; cut-stump or basal
bark spray treatment around the stem with triclopyr


Native Substitutes:

Additional Resources