Acer pensylvanicum Striped Maple

General

A small, understory tree of the Northeast hardwood forest, with conspicuous striped bark. It is a food source for deer, moose, rabbits, and beavers.

Plant Description

Striped maple is named for its distinctive vertically-striped bark, which is striking green and black when young, and light green and white as it matures. Grows in moist woods. This species is mostly dioecious, with a male-biased sex ratio. It can change genders from year to year.

Height (ft)

≤45 feet

Spread (ft)

12-20

Soil moisture
Moist

Soil types
Coarse to medium textured mineral soils

Wetland indicator
FACU

Shade tolerance
Full Sun-Part Shade

Bloom color
Yellow, inconspicuous

Bloom period
Late Spring

Fall conspicuous
Yes

Anaerobic tolerance
None

Drought tolerance
Low

Salinity tolerance
None

Self-Pollinating?

No

Range

Quebec and Nova Scotia west to the Upper Peninsula, and south to New York then along the Appalachian range south to North Carolina.

Kartesz, J.T. 2024. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP) [website http://bonap.org/]