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paperbark maple

Scientific Name: Acer griseum

Family: Aceraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Paperbark Maple: A Year-Round Ornamental Treasure

The Paperbark Maple, scientifically known as Acer griseum, is celebrated for its striking ornamental features and year-round interest. Its common name aptly describes its most distinctive feature: exfoliating bark that peels away in paper-like layers.

Considerations for Pets and Children

  • The tree has small yellow flowers in spring.
  • The bark peels in papery sections which may attract children or pets.

Scientific Classification and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Acer griseum (Franch.) Pax
  • Common Name: Paperbark Maple
  • Family: Aceraceae (Acer)
  • Synonyms: The text mentions that Acer griseum is sometimes mistakenly confused with the three-flowered maple (A. triflorum) due to similar leaf and bark characteristics.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to China.
  • Widely grown as an ornamental tree in temperate regions.
  • Flourishes in USDA zones 4 to 8.
  • Prefers a sheltered location with moist, well-drained soil.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • A small, slow-growing, deciduous tree.
  • Typically grows to a height of 20 to 30 feet, with a spread equal to its height.
  • Has a neat, compact, oval to oval-rounded shape with slender upright branching and a short main trunk with several secondary branches.
  • The bark is tactile, cinnamon-colored, and exfoliates in paper-like layers, revealing a copper-brown hue.
  • Leaves are opposite, compound, and trifoliate, typically 3 to 5 inches in size.
  • Foliage starts orange in spring, transitions through pinkish-brown and yellow, and finishes with striking reds in the fall.
  • Features small yellow flowers in the spring.

Ecological Role

  • Widely grown as an ornamental tree in temperate regions, admired for its decorative exfoliating bark.
  • Ideal as a specimen tree and well-suited for small yards.
  • Can be grown at the edge of the woods.

Quirky Facts

  • Paperbark Maple seeds are notoriously difficult to germinate.

Further Information

  • RHS (Royal Horticultural Society)
  • Dave's Garden
  • ARKive
  • Cornell Plantations