Autumn Maple (Bischofia javanica): A Common Evergreen Large Tree of the South, Its Characteristics and Uses

Bischofia javanica (autumn maple) is a tall evergreen or semi-evergreen tree of the genus Bischofia, very common across South China and Southwest China, and popularly known among local people as qiedong or qiufengmu. It has a spreading crown and dense branches and leaves, and a relatively long lifespan. It is often used as a street tree, a shade tree for courtyards, or as an old-tree feature in villages, and can be seen in many towns and villages across the south.

In appearance, Bischofia javanica has trifoliate compound leaves, with leaflets that are ovate or elliptical, leathery and glossy; the new leaves often carry a pale red tinge, giving it considerable ornamental value. Its flowers are small and unisexual, with male and female flowers on separate trees. The fruit is a round berry, pale brown when ripe, and often attracts birds to come and peck at it.

Bischofia javanica has fairly wide uses. Its wood is tough and its grain attractive, making it suitable for furniture and building components; its fruit is sweet and edible, and in some places people also use it to make wine; in addition, the bark, roots and leaves also have applications in traditional folk experience, but medicinal use still requires guidance from professionals.

For cultivation, Bischofia javanica prefers a warm, humid climate, likes light but tolerates slight shade, and has a fairly strong tolerance for wet conditions, making it well suited to planting beside ponds, along riverbanks, or in places with deep, fertile, moist soil. It is not tolerant of severe cold, and overwintering outdoors in the north is relatively difficult; the suitable cultivation areas are South China, Southwest China, and places such as Fujian and Taiwan, China. When transplanting, take care to keep the soil moist, and once established it is relatively low-maintenance.

Many people easily confuse Bischofia javanica with Bischofia polycarpa. A simple distinction: Bischofia javanica is basically evergreen, with thicker, more leathery leaves, and is distributed further south; Bischofia polycarpa sheds its leaves in winter, has papery leaves, and is slightly more cold-tolerant. The two are close relatives in the same genus, and they can be told apart by leaf texture and whether the tree drops its leaves in winter.