Paperbark maple

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; provide afternoon shade in hot climates.

Water

Moderate; keep the root zone evenly moist while establishing. Established trees tolerate short dry spells, but prolonged drought can scorch the leaves.

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Tolerates clay if drainage is good; avoid waterlogged ground.

Height

20-30 ft (6-9 m), occasionally taller with age

Spread

15-25 ft (4.5-7.5 m)

Flowers

Small, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers in spring as the leaves emerge.

Foliage

Deciduous leaves with three leaflets, green above and greyish beneath; orange, red and scarlet autumn colour varies with conditions.

Growth

Slow, often around 6-12 in (15-30 cm) per year once established.

Care needed

Low

• Plant with the root flare at soil level, leaving room for the mature crown.
• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two or three growing seasons; check soil moisture before watering again.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Do not feed routinely; use a soil test to guide feeding if growth or leaf colour is poor.
• Stake only on exposed sites or if the root ball moves; remove supports once the tree is firmly rooted.
• Leave peeling bark attached; pulling it off can damage living bark beneath.

Pruning. Prune sparingly in late summer, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches and correcting weak structure while the tree is young. Avoid heavy pruning and late-winter or early-spring cuts, when maples can bleed sap heavily.

Spring

Plant when the soil is workable in colder regions, and water thoroughly after planting.

Late spring

Renew mulch and check that ties are not rubbing or constricting the trunk.

Summer

Water deeply during prolonged dry spells, especially while the tree is establishing.

Late summer

Make any necessary light structural pruning; retain the natural branching habit.

Autumn

Plant in mild regions while the soil is still warm, provided it is not waterlogged.

Winter

Check young trees for rabbit, deer or mower damage and protect the trunk where needed.

• Use as a lawn specimen where the branching outline and peeling bark can be seen clearly.
• Place beside a path or terrace, with sufficient clearance for the mature crown, to appreciate the bark at close range.
• Set against a dark evergreen backdrop to make the coppery bark stand out in winter.
• Underplant with low woodland perennials and spring bulbs, keeping planting clear of the trunk.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Japanese, Modern courtyard, Arts and Crafts, Autumn colour and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Japanese forest grass, Hellebores, Epimedium, Snowdrops, Autumn fern and Hardy geraniums.

Wildlife: Flowers offer some food for visiting insects, and the crown provides shelter and perching sites for birds. Its wildlife value is generally lower than that of locally native maples.

• Leaf scorch in heat or drought: water deeply, maintain mulch and shelter young trees from intense afternoon sun.
• Poor growth or root decline in waterlogged soil: improve site drainage or relocate a young tree; do not leave its roots standing in water.
• Verticillium wilt can cause sudden branch dieback: seek a diagnosis, remove affected wood and reduce drought stress; there is no reliable curative treatment.
• Occasional scale insects: inspect twigs and leaf undersides, encourage natural predators and use a locally approved horticultural oil if an infestation warrants treatment.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats or dogs, although it is not an edible plant. Safety for horses is not well established for this species; keep fallen leaves and seeds out of feed and pasture rather than assuming that all maples are safe.

• Three-flowered maple (Acer triflorum)

  Also has three-part leaves, but its bark is generally buff to grey-brown and peels in narrow strips rather than the conspicuous cinnamon-coloured papery curls of paperbark maple.

• Paper birch (Betula papyrifera)

  Mature bark is white rather than cinnamon-brown, and the leaves are single, toothed blades arranged alternately rather than opposite leaves with three leaflets.

The common name refers to the thin, peeling bark, while the botanical epithet griseum means grey, referring to the greyish undersides of the leaves.

Propagation. Usually raised from seed, but many seeds are empty and germination is slow and irregular. Viable seed may need warm followed by cold stratification, sometimes through more than one seasonal cycle; buying a nursery-grown tree is more practical for most gardens.

Accepted botanical name

Acer griseum

Native range

China North-Central, China South-Central and China Southeast.

Measured

Average height 1200 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.