Photo Credit: Image by Sids1 via Flickr. The species and common names for this maple comes from the fact that the leaves are similar to those of the sycamore (Platanus). This tree does well with the conditions in urban areas like salt and pollution.he Amur maple is one of the smaller trees in the Acer genus. Once established, it will have some drought resistance. In some areas it can be invasive, so check with your extension office first before planting. The 'Embers' and 'Flame' varieties have especially vibrant fall colors in both leaves and fruit.