Acer pensylvanicum
Acer pensylvanicum
striped maple
- Plant type and subtype:
- Trees
- Deciduous
- Shrub-like Trees
- Trees
- Hardiness Zone:
- 3,
- 4,
- 5,
- 6
- Light Requirements:
- shade,
- part-shade
- Height: 15'-40'
- Leaf Color:
- green
- Bloom Color:
- yellow,
- brown,
- green
- Bloom Time:
- Apr,
- May
- Water Use:
- low,
- medium
- Soil Moisture:
- moist
- Soil Description:
- acid,
- rich
- Additional Tags:
- fall interest,
- shade garden plant,
- winter interest,
- woodland garden plant
- Description:
Acer pensylvanicum is an understory tree. It will remain short (up to 20') in full shade, and will grow up to 40' in a forest clearing or in part-shade. The leaves are bright-green, broad, with forward pointing shallow lobes. They turn pale-yellow in fall. The flowers are terminal and pendulous, and so are the showy clusters of samaras that follow. It owes its common name to its deeply striped bark, which is probably its most distinguishing feature.
- Cultivation:
Striped maple is one of the most shade resistant deciduous trees. It is quite content going through its life cycle as an understory tree or small shrub. Its form will be denser and more rounded with more light. It prefers cool moist, rich and well-drained soils. Its high shade tolerance and ability to out compete other understory species, have given it the reputation of being somewhat of a pest. Blooms April and May. Zones 3-6
- Propagation:
Propagate from seed, or by softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings.
- Additional Notes:
It is a winter food source for moose, whence the common names "moosewood" and "moose maple". The bark is also a food source for rabbits, beavers and deer.
Map of Native Range
- Range by State: USDA data
- Recorded County Distribution: USDA data
*The map of native range is based on the latest available USDA data.
There may be gaps in the county level distribution.
CT, GA, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
Classification
| Kingdom: | Plantae | Plants |
| Subkingdom: | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants |
| Superdivision: | Spermatophyta | Seed plants |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons |
| Subclass: | Rosidae | |
| Order: | Sapindales | |
| Family: | Aceraceae | Maple family |
| Genus: | Acer | maple |
| Species: | Acer pensylvanicum | striped maple |
| Synonyms: | moosewood, moose maple |
USDA Endangered Status
| N/A |
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