Striped Maple

Striped Maple

Family: Sapindaceae (formerly Aceraceae)
Latin Name: Acer pensylvanicum
Common Name(s): Striped maple, moosewood, snakebark maple, goosefoot maple, whistlewood

Deciduous or Evergreen: Deciduous
Native Range: Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-7
Mature Height: 15-20’
Mature Spread: 15-20’
Bloom Time: May-June
Native to Minnesota: No
Shade Tolerant: Partial

Bark

Samara

Mix

Description:

Striped maples are small, understory maples most notable for their striped bark. Leaves have three pointed lobes with very shallow sinuses. The leaves are larger and slightly hairier than most of the native maples in Minnesota. Its flowers are unremarkable, turning to winged samaras in summer.

Striped maples have many different common names: the tree is a popular food source for moose, hence the name moosewood; to some the bark resembles snakeskin, leading to the name snakebark maple; the wood has been used historically for whistes, so goes the name whistlewood; and the leaves resemble goose feet, hence the name goosefoot maple. The Latin name comes from the tree's native origin in Pennsylvania, but was originally mispelled by Carl Linneaus himself and so has the species name pensylvanicum rather than pennsylvanicum.

This particular tree is the only striped maple on campus.

 

Leaf

Issues:

Striped maples, as with all maples, can be infected with Verticillium wilt.  The species does not have many insects pests associated with it.

Other Resources:

Forest Service

Missouri Botanical Garden

 

Form