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Figure 1. Single Trunk Specimen |
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Paperbark maple is perhaps one of our most beautiful
maples. It is a slow-growing deciduous tree with
strikingly orange, peeling, papery bark (Fig. 2) not
unlike that of the
River Birch (Betula nigra) providing
year-round interest. It has unusual trifoliate leaves
for a maple, and the bark exfoliates even on young trees
and small branches, making this a truly stunning
specimen tree. Most specimens grow with multiple trunks
which branch low to the ground, but can be trained to
create a single trunk, as in the specimen pictured above
(Fig. 1). Paperbark maple has outstanding, showy scarlet
fall foliage.
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Hardy in USDA zones 4 through 7, this tree can be
used in Bonsai containers or above-ground planters, or
planted in buffer strips around decks or patios. It
grows to 25 feet tall and nearly as wide, but often
takes a vase shape or upright form with an open crown.
Inconspicuous green flowers appear in spring. Elongate,
oval fruit with a hard brown husk are 1-3 inches long do
not attract wildlife, neither do they present a clean-up
problem.
Paperbark will grow in all light conditions from full
sun to deep shade; it has moderate drought, salt
aerosol, and soil salinity tolerance. The tree is hardy
and grows very slowly to 25 or 30 feet. It does not
usually produce surface roots and should not present a
mowing problem unless allowed to assume its
characteristic multi-trunked, low-branching form (Fig.4) |
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Fig. 2. Bronze/orange exfoliating bark
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The multi-stemmed habit,
unusual leaves, and wonderful bark makes
this a prime candidate for specimen planting
in any commercial, institutional, or
residential landscape. If you can find it,
plant it by a patio or other prime location
and light it from below for nighttime
enjoyment. The tree is hardy, grows very
slowly to 25 or 30 feet tall, but,
unfortunately, is difficult and expensiveto
propagate.
It does not
tolerate extended drought or other
environmental stresses in the south or in
poor soil (moderate drought-tolerance in
sandy loam) but will grow in sun or shade.
Leaves will scorch during dry summers unless
provided with some irrigation. Probably best
in partial shade if planted in the south.
The beauty of this tree makes up for the
extra effort required to grow it. If this
plant could be easily propagated it would be
widely used because the price of the plant
would drop to levels acceptable to many
people.
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Genus:
Acer section:
Trifoliata series:
Grisea
Family:
Sapindaceae subfamily:
Hippocastanoideae. Also placed
in:
Aceracea
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Figure 4. Multiple trunks, low-branching
form
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Native:
- ASIA-TEMPERATE
China:
China - Gansu
[s.e.], Henan [s.w.],
Hubei [w.], Shaanxi
[s.], Sichuan [e.]
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Synonyms:
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Paperbark Maple Foliage
Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite (Fig.
3)
Leaf type: odd pinnately compound; trifoliate
Leaflet margin: serrate
Leaflet shape: elliptic (oval); ovate
Leaflet venation: pinnate
Leaflet blade length: 4 to 8 inches; 2 to 4
inches
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