liquidambar-leaved Tonkin maple

Extremely rare in cultivation, this deciduous tree is about 12m tall, with palmate, 3-5 evenly lobed leaves, 8-13cm across. These are sharply pointed, deep red to purple when young, the colour persisting on the undersides of the leaves, maturing to green with age, during summer, then orange-yellow to red in autumn. Spring flowers are yellow followed by yellowish autumn winged fruits