Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum

Scientific name: Acer griseum

Common name: paperbark maple

Native: No

Native range: It is native to central China [3,4].

Distribution in North America: Click to view the USDA Plants Database page for A. griseum.

USDA Zones: 4A-7B [1]

Maximum age: Unclear, however a  monumental paperbark maple planted in Germany is estimated to be approximately 120 years old, suggesting that individuals may survive for upwards of 100 years [2].

Ecology: The long, hard fruit is difficult for North American wildlife to open, and the tree is generally considered to be unattractive to wildlife [1,6].

Ethnobotany: Due to its unusual, copper-colored, peeling bark, it is valued as an ornamental and sometimes used in bonsai [1,3,4,6]. Members of the Acer genus contain anti-inflammatory compounds that may be useful in the treatment of cancers and chronic pain [5].