Evergreen Maple, Smooth Leaf Maple         AY-ser ob-LON-gum

• Evergreen to semi-deciduous tree or shrub, to as much as 80 ft (24 m) in its native habitat, usually much smaller in cultivation, e.g., 20-30 ft [6-9 m].  Leaves opposite, simple, oblong-ovate to lanceolate, sometimes 3-lobed when young, 5-12 cm long, tip acuminate, base wedge-shaped or rounded, margin entire, 3-veined, leathery, upper surface smooth, dark green, below gray-green; new foliage red (pinkish bronze) at bud break.  Flowers small, yellow-green, in short clusters, appearing with leaves.   Fruit (samaras) 2.5 cm long, wings spreading at right angles to horizontal.
• Sun or light shade.  Reportedly does best in moist, well-drained soil.  Cold sensitive, can be grown in southern California and Arizona.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 9?      Native to mountainous forests in the Himalayas (2000-3,900 ft), Nepal, Kashmir in India, Pakistan and southwestern China.
• Note: Acer oblongum var. macrocarpum is sometimes listed as an alternate name for the Leatherleaf Maple, Acer coriaceifolium (syn. Acer cinnamomifolium).