Rare Chinese maple known as the olive maple with spectacular fall color. Earlier in the spring, the leaves are green. Here is a picture I took earlier today of summer colors on July 21, 2010.
Supposedly Acer olivaceum or Olive maple keeps its leaves much longer than other maples and goes through fall colors of yellow, orange and red. I am very interested to see the fall changes. I think the one we have is from the Zhejiang province of China. I am interested to know if their are different forms of this species. Here is a link I found with more info and some good pics of Acer olivaceum . http://mohsho.image.coocan.jp/Eolivaceum.html Matt Nichols
I have twice tried to grow A. olivaceum, under different cultural conditions. Both plants failed from massive pseudomonas attacks near the (palmatum) graft union. Hard to tell if it was a problem with hardiness but I'm guessing so. The second plant in particular appeared very healthy and lived for a few years before dying this spring. Sorry to report that here at least the fall color was unremarkable, a nice orange but nothing more. Neither plant retained leaves particularly long. I'd like to try this one again as a botanical if I can get hold of some seed or a seedling. -E
Thanks for that Ron, a new development I think. The species group at the Maple Society has not completely accepted this view, (although the final survey is as yet unpublished) as the morphology does seem somewhat different.
Speaking of new developments A. olivaceum wasn't published until 1979: International Plant Names Index
