Family: Aceraceae
Name: Acer pensylvanicum - Striped Maple or Snakebark Maple or Goosefoot Maple
Bloom Time: April - May
Flower: Gold/Yellow
Soil Condition: Dry to Moist
Light: Partial Shade to Full Shade
Height: 15-25' tall by 12-20' wide
Native Range: Eastern United States including Long Island
Zone: 3 - 7
Photos: Bark (KMS Native Plants), Foliage (KMS Native Plants, Samaras (Homer Edward Price, CC BY 2.0), Flower (JK Marlow)
Striped Maple is a great understory tree that tolerates deep shade. The young bark is striped giving it its common name (see picture above). It is also known as goosefoot maple due to the shape of its leaves. The flowers, although yellow-green, are quite showy as are the samaras (aka poly noses). The fall color is yellow.
Maintenance: None
Benefits: Nectar source, early bloomer for our native pollinators
Fun Facts: Indigenous people use it to treat a variety of ailments including bronchial and kidney troubles, colds, and coughs. The soft wood of the twigs may be used to make a whistle.
Companion Plants: Polygonatum biflorum - False Solomon's Seal, Eurybia divaricata - White Wood Aster, Asarum canadense - Wild Ginger
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