Acer griseum is a small tree valued primarily for its ornamental
coppery exfoliating bark. Paperbark Maple is slow to grow and mature, but
a long-term investment in the landscape. It's an excellent small tree!
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F E A T U R E S |
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Form
-small ornamental tree or shade tree
-maturing at about 20' tall x 15' wide
-upright oval growth habit in youth, becoming upright rounded with age
-slow growth rate
-significant variability in branching pattern can occur among the seed-derived plants; no 2 plants are exactly alike |
Foliage
-opposite and compound, 3-lobed (trifoliate) leaves are up to 6" long, with a medium green, gray-green, or blue-green color
-the 3 leaflets are each up to 2" long, having crenate to dentate margins with distinctly pubescent lower surfaces and petiole
-variable autumn color ranges from yellowish-green to yellow, or bronzed to reddish; in good years, the autumn color can be spectacular |
Flowers
-pendulous green inflorescences in May are noticeable, but not especially ornamental |
Fruit
-2 semi-divergent, (45 degree angle) winged samaras per stalk, in pendulous clusters from the twigs; often quite pubescent |
Twig
-brown-red, pubescent, becoming very exfoliating and more lightly colored on young branches |
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Trunk
-copper, cinnamon, or orange trunk usually branches a few feet above the ground, creating an upright multi-branched effect
-bark is exfoliating in youth, either becoming smooth or remaining exfoliating with age; very noticeable and attractive in winter, especially if contrasted with a snowy or solid green background on sunny days |
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C U L T
U R E
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Culture
-full sun to partial shade
-quite adaptable to a wide range of soils, soil pHs, heat, and drought
-few diseases or pests affect this species
-moderately available (propagation is rather difficult), either in B&B or container form, and somewhat expensive, due to its slow growth rate |
Hardiness
-zones 5 to 8
Origin
-native to Central China
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U S A G E |
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Assets
-exfoliating coppery bark is highly ornamental
-autumn color can be vivid red
-relatively small mature height and width
Liabilities
-slow growth rate
-marginally hardy in zone 5, especially in exposed areas |
Function
-specimen, focal point, large foundation, or entranceway small tree
Texture
-fine texture in foliage; medium texture when bare
-average to thick density in foliage and when bare |
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S E L
E C T I 0 N S |
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Varieties
and Cultivars
- Search
OSU PlantFacts for additional plants in this species
Alternates
-trees with ornamental bark (Betula nigra Heritage® ['Cully'], Betula papyrifera, Carpinus caroliniana, Ostrya virginiana, Ulmus parvifolia, Zelkova serrata, etc.)
-trees with a relatively low mature height (Acer campestre, Carpinus caroliniana, Koelreuteria paniculata, Malus, Ostrya virginiana, etc.) |