![]() ![]() These were the source of all the specimens in the country for some decades, but more specimens were located and introduced in the 1990’s. Paperbark maple trees were first introduced to the United States in 1907 when the Arnold Arboretum brought two specimens from China. The foliage turns a vivid red or green with marked red overtones. The trees are deciduous and those growing paperbark maples say the fall display is lovely. They grow in threes and can get to five inches (12 cm.) long. In summer the leaves are a soft shade of blue green on the upper side, and a frosty white on the underside. In some places it is polished, smooth, and shiny. The beautiful bark is a deep shade of cinnamon and it peels off in thin, papery sheets. ![]() Paperbark maple trees are small trees that grow to 35 feet (11 m.) over some 20 years. For more paperbark maple facts, including tips on planting, read on. Although growing a paperbark maple has been a difficult and expensive proposition in the past, more trees are becoming available these days at a lower cost. This iconic species is native to China and much admired for its clean, fine textured foliage and gorgeous exfoliating bark. Plant paperbark maple, and you will have a well-behaved, slow-growing tree that feeds the bees in early spring, has two-toned leaves all summer, bursts into fiery red, orange and pink foliage in the fall, and best of all, has colorful peeling bark all winter.Īs for folding paper into origami? Paper is amazing – you cannot fold a piece of paper in half more than six times before it is too strong to fold.What is a paperbark maple? Paperbark maple trees are among the most stunning trees on the planet. You can propagate paperbark maples from seeds or cuttings, or by grafting onto the rootstock of sugar maples (Acer saccharum).īecause paperbark maple seeds have very low germination, cuttings are the easiest way to increase your supply of these colorful trees.Įven during summer, this tree offers color because the leaves are dark green on top contrasting against their silvery undersides. They are also typically free of diseases and rarely attacked by insect pests. Once they are well established, paperbark maples are quite tolerant of drought. These trees also thrive in full sun or partial shade. Paperbark maple is quite adaptable as to soil and is one of the few trees that grows well in heavy clay soil. Plant perennials around the trunk such as hostas and periwinkle (Vinca minor). It also works well as an understory tree in woodsy settings. You may want to plant this beautiful tree near your house so you can enjoy it year-round. They are perfect for smaller yards or planted in front of larger trees. These are slow-growing trees that eventually only get 25 feet tall, with branches spread 15 to 20 feet wide. Luckily, most of the seeds are sterile, so you won't have to constantly pull unwanted seedlings from around the garden. These are the typical maple tree “helicopters“ that form in pairs with flat wings that let them spin while falling and travel quite a ways carried by the winds. Like all maple trees, paperbark maple is an important source of pollen for honey bees in early spring, when few other flowers are in bloom.įollowing the blooms are the seedpods, called samaras. In early spring, the tree blooms with tiny, light-green flowers that are hard to spot, unless you are a bee. ![]() Maple leaves famously change color in the autumn, and the paperbark maple is stunning with fall foliage in red, orange and even shades of pink. The effect in the garden is stunning, especially in winter when so much else is drab and gray. This tree has smooth, shiny, reddish-orange bark that, as it matures, peels off in thin, shaggy layers. So, it is fitting that there is a tree used for bonsai in Japan whose bark peels off like sheets of paper, the paperbark maple (Acer griseum). ![]() The Japanese invented the art of paper folding, called origami, in the 17th century. The Chinese invented paper about 2,000 years ago, and it has been with us ever since. Indeed, our word “paper” is taken from the ancient Egyptian word for papyrus, papuro. ![]()
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