Snakebark maple (Acer capillipes)

Features and Characteristics

Acer capillipes known as snakebark maple is native to mountainous areas of Japan. It is a small, rounded, deciduous tree with dense, arching branching that grows to as much as 40’ tall. It is also often seen growing in the wild as a large, multi-stemmed, tree-like shrub. As the common name suggests, it is perhaps best noted for its snake-like, olive green bark accented with narrow, white vertical striping. Broad-ovate, glabrous, three-lobed leaves (to 5” long) with large central lobes and serrated edges emerge reddish in spring, but mature to dark green. Young shoots, leaf stalks and veins are reddish in color. Small, greenish white flowers (1/3” diameter) bloom in pendant racemes in spring. Flowers give way to winged samaras (to 3/4” long). Excellent orange to red fall color.

Genus name is the Latin name for a maple tree.

Specific epithet in translation from Latin means slender-footed (capillus meaning hair and pes meaning foot) in apparent reference to the thin flower/fruit stalks.