How to identify the different species of maples
- Joana Alves Gomes
- Sep 30, 2025
- 2 min read
Maples are beloved by many, both for their captivating autumn colors and the light shade they provide in summer.
There are over 100 different varieties, ranging from trees to shrubs, and even bonsai, with species to suit every taste.
These trees are easily identifiable thanks to their unmistakable fruit, formed by two joined samaras.
Taxonomic Classification:
Genus: Acer
Family: Sapindaceae
Order: Sapindales
Subclass: Rosidae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subdivision: Magnoliophytina (Angiospermae)
Division: Spermatophyta
How to recognize the different species?
By observing the shape of the leaf and the angle formed by the samaras.
- Acer campestre, Common Maple
Acer characterized by its smaller size, the leaf is split into 5 lobes; the samaras form an angle of 180º between them.
- Acer japonicum var. Vitifolium, Vitifolium Fullmoon Maple
A species native to Japan and South Korea, like Acer palmatum, they differ in size, type of division and number of leaf lobes; in Acer japonicum the leaf is larger, divided less than halfway down the leaf into 7 to 11 lobes.
- Acer japonicum var. Aconitifolium, Fernleaf Fullmoon Maple
Variedade de Acer japonicum de folhas mais divididas e serradas.
- Acer monspessulanum, Montpellier Maple
Espécie nativa em Portugal, a folha é mais pequena, comparativamente aos restantes Bordos, fendida em 3 lóbulos semelhantes; as sâmaras são praticamente paralelas entre si.
- Acer negundo, Box elder, Ashleaf maple
Espécie facilmente identificável graças a sua folha composta, com 3 ou 5 folíolos; as sâmaras formam um ângulo agudo.
- Acer palmatum, Bordo japonês
Espécie características dos jardins orientais, possui um porte pequeno e copa larga, as folhas são fendidas em 3 a 7 lóbulos com terminações pontiagudas e dentadas; as sâmaras formam entre si um ângulo obtuso.
- Acer palmatum var. atropurpureum, Red Japanese Maple
Uma variedade de Acer palmatum que se distingue pela folha avermelhada.
- Acer palmatum var. dissectum, Japanese scalloped maple
A variety of Acer palmatum distinguished by its double-scalloped leaf.
- Acer pseudoplatanus, Bastard plane tree
A species of Acer native to Portugal, its five-lobed leaf can be confused with that of Acer platanoides. However, it is easy to distinguish them by the angle between the samaras, which form a 90° angle in Acer pseudoplatanus and an obtuse angle in Acer platanoides.
- Acer rubrum, Red Maple
Acer identifiable by its leaves divided less than halfway into 3 or 5 lobes, with the two lobes closest to the base being smaller and the margin roughly serrated; the petiole is red and the samaras form an acute angle between them.
Which is your favorite?
To learn more about the different Quercus species, read this article:
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