# Paperbark Maple (*Acer griseum*)

The Paperbark Maple is a beautiful tree with smooth, peeling bark that looks like paper! It has lovely leaves that turn bright colors in the fall, making it a special sight in nature.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Paperbark Maple](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Acer_griseum_Morton_836-58-7.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Bruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acer_griseum_Morton_836-58-7.jpg)

## Appearance

The Paperbark Maple has stunning cinnamon to reddish-brown bark that exfoliates in thin, papery curls, revealing fresh, lighter bark beneath. Its unique leaves are usually trifoliate, meaning they have three leaflets, and turn vibrant shades of red and orange in autumn.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Sapindales
- **Family:** Sapindaceae
- **Genus:** Acer

## Interesting facts

- Even in winter, its bright, peeling bark creates a beautiful splash of color in any garden!
- Its bark actually feels like thin, crinkly paper, making it super fun to touch!
- This amazing tree was first discovered in the mountains of faraway China over a hundred years ago.
- Unlike most maples, its leaves have three distinct parts, not the usual five!

## Special abilities

- **Paper Peeler:** Paperbark Maple has unique bark that constantly peels in thin strips, helping it shed parasites and expand its trunk.
- **Wind-Riding Seeds:** Paperbark Maple produces winged seeds called samaras that spin like helicopters, letting the wind carry them far away.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 600-900 cm
- **Spread:** 450-750 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Eastern Grey Squirrel (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — eats its winged seeds
- **Eats:** [White-footed Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-footed-mouse) (*Peromyscus leucopus*) — consumes fallen seeds
- **Shelter:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — nests in its branches

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
- [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Stay on paths and don't climb trees without an adult's help.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Paperbark Maple?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Paperbark Maple?

600-900 cm

### How wide does Paperbark Maple spread?

450-750 cm

### How big are the flowers on Paperbark Maple?

0.5-1.5 cm

### When does Paperbark Maple bloom?

Spring

### Is Paperbark Maple edible?

No

### Is Paperbark Maple toxic?

None

### What is Paperbark Maple's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Schlossgarten Oldenburg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/schlossgarten-oldenburg) — Niedersachsen, DE · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Paperbark Maple: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/paperbark-maple)