Acer pensylvanicum

Common Names

Striped Maple, Moosewood, Goosefoot Maple, Whistlewood, Snakebark Maple, Moose Maple

Summary

Striped maple is a native deciduous small tree or large shrub of eastern North America, typically 15–30 ft tall with a broad crown. It features distinctive white vertical striping on young bark, giving a snakebark appearance; leaves are goosefoot-shaped with three shallow lobes and yellow fall color; it is an understory, shade-tolerant plant of moist woodlands, with small yellow-green flowers in spring and wind-dispersed samaras.

Growing conditions favor cool summers, moist well-drained acidic soils, and tolerance for heavy shade; avoid full sun to prevent leaf scorch, and it is hardy to USDA zones 3a–7b. It is slow-growing and suited to woodland understory and shade gardens; uses include ornamental value in shade, wood for inlay, whistles carved, and wildlife value as nectar for bees and as browse for moose and deer.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

15-30 ft

Spread

15-20 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-7

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, acidic soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil.

Soil pH

5.1–6.5 (acidic to mildly acidic)

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green in summer, yellow in spring and autumn, and no foliage in winter.

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Generally very slow growth, up to about 1 m/year (3.3 ft/year) under optimum light

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Basal sprouting (vegetative reproduction), In vitro culture (tissue culture), Grafting

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, moths, and birds