Trident maple or three-toothed maple is native to China, Korea, and Japan. It is an attractive, small, rounded, deciduous tree that typically grows rather slowly to 20-25’. This tree tends to grow as a multi-stemmed, low-branching specimen, but it can be pruned to a single stem. Triangular, three-lobed leaves are glossy green above and pale green beneath. It has interesting flaky bark revealing an orange-brown inner bark on mature trunks. Variable but usually attractive fall color features shades of dark red and orange.

This native perennial grows 2-3’ high (sometimes higher) and 3-5’ wide. The species has bright-red, pendant, hibiscus-like flowers that never fully open with petals overlapping to form a loose tube said to resemble a Turkish turban, hence its common name, Turk's Cap. Red flowers usually are produced in showy profusion during hot weather at the end of summer and early fall. White- and pink-flowered cultivars and a variegated form available. Turk’s Cap is a good ornamental for shady sites. Good nectar plant for hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, and other insects, Fruit are attractive to birds and mammals. The fruit is edible either raw or cooked, tasting rather like apple, hence its Spanish name, Manzanilla (Little Apple).