Common Name:

General Information

Acer laevigatum is an evergreen or semievergreen tree that can grow from 10 - 15 metres tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its wood. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - central and southern China, northern India, Nepal, Myanmar

Habitat

Forests; at elevations from 1,000 - 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Acer laevigatum is not a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -8°c when dormant[]. It only succeeds outdoors in the mildest parts of the temperate zone.
Acer species are generally of easy cultivation, growing best in full sun or light, dappled shade and succeeding in most well-drained but moisture-retentive soils[, ].
The plant is andromonoecious, producing both male flowers and hermaphrodite flowers[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The white wood is hard and glose-grained[]. It is used for planking and making tea boxes[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, it usually germinates in the following spring. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours and then stratify for 2 - 4 months at 1 - 8°c. The seed has a hard coat and can be slow to germinate, often taking 2 years. The seed can be harvested 'green' (when it has fully developed but before it has dried and produced any germination inhibitors) and sown immediately. It should germinate in late winter. If the seed is harvested too soon it will produce very weak plants or no plants at all[, ]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until they are 20cm or more tall before planting them out in their permanent positions.
Layering, which takes about 12 months, is successful with most species in this genus.
Cuttings of young shoots in early summer . The cuttings should have 2 - 3 pairs of leaves, plus one pair of buds at the base. Remove a very thin slice of bark at the base of the cutting, rooting is improved if a rooting hormone is used. The rooted cuttings must show new growth during the summer before being potted up otherwise they are unlikely to survive the winter. It is very difficult to find suitable wood for cuttings.