Snakebark maple is an understory small tree or large shrub in the maple family (Sapindaceae) with a rounded habit. This tree's name is in reference to the state of Pennsylvania where it is native. It is also native to NC mountain areas where it can be found in dry to mesic forests. It prefers partial shade and well-drained moist soils. It tolerates heavy shade very well and performs best in cooler summers so it struggles in the south. The interesting bark on stems and young trunks have white striped markings giving it the common name of snakebark. The shape of the leaves are supposedly the shape of a goosefoot giving it the common name of goosefoot maple. The bright yellow leaves provide fall interest and the unusual bark provides winter interest. This tree will do well as an understory tree or shrub in woodland areas. Protect it from full sun as leaves may scorch. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Potential disease problems include verticillium wilt, leaf spots, tar spot, canker and root rots. Potential insect problems include aphids, scale, borers and caterpillars. Mites may appear. See potential insect and disease problem fact sheets to the left. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests. More information on Acer .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in. | Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Irregular; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Orbicular
Leaf margin
Lobed; Serrate
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
5-7 inch long and wide leaves are 3 lobed at the apex and palmately veined. Yellow to red-orange fall foliage.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
1/3 inch flowers are greenish-yellow, regular, pentamerous in 6 inch long racemes, Bloom time is April- May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
1 inch long winged samaras in pendulous chains. In North Carolina, the samaras are available from June to September.
Bark color
Green; Light Brown; Red/Burgundy; White
Bark detail
Young bark as vertical white stripes which can disappear with age and turn more reddish brown.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green; Red/Burgundy; White
Stem detail
The branches are reddish and the terminal buds are red and taper to a point. Older stems can have green to white striped bark.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Only species of snakebark maple that is native to North America
Distribution
USA: CT , GA , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NS , ON , PE
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Early spring source of nectar for bees. It is an important browse plant for many mammals.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Moths; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
The Striped Maple has limited uses. Its porous and fine-grained wood has occasionally been used by cabinet makers for inlay material. Whistles can be carved easily from branch sections. Native Americans reportedly used the wood to make arrows and the bark to make a beverage. Farmers in the American colonies and Canada reportedly fed their cattle both dried and green leaves in the winter; in the spring, when the buds had begun to swell, they turned their horses and cows into the woods to browse on the young shoots. Native Americans used the Striped Maple to treat a variety of ailments including bronchial and kidney troubles, colds, and coughs.