Acer Tegmentosum

Acer tegmentosum, or Manchurian snakebark maple, is a deciduous tree native to mountainous regions of Manchuria, Eastern Russia and Korea. Mature specimens are typically vase-shaped, reaching a mature height of 20-30 feet. The distinctive characteristic which sets them apart from other maples is their beautifully striated bark. Its smooth, bright- green bark is lavishly adorned with blue-green to white stripes of varying widths forming a pattern reminiscent of a snake’s skin. There are other maples commonly called snakebark maples. The genus Acer is divided into 16 sections, and the snakebarks make up the section Macrantha. There are several other species in this section which are notable. The lone North American native snakebark maple is Acer pensylvanicum.Acer davidii, or Father David’s maple is native to China, while Acer capillipes is native to Japan. These four species are somewhat uncommonly available to American gardeners for use in the landscape. There is a dozen or so more species seldom seen in cultivation except in botanical gardens. A handful of crosses and cultivars have also been developed. The University of British Columbia Botanical Garden in Vancouver has an impressive collection containing many of the possible species and cultivars of Macrantha maples. Oregon State University in Corvallis, near my hometown of Albany also has a nice collection of snakebark maples on campus.

The usefulness and beauty of these trees in the landscape can’t be overstated. Their bark is of year-round interest, and any passer-by cannot help but be enamored by it. The striping is caused by waxes that are produced in the bark and accumulate in fissures that expand as the tree grows, creating the striped pattern. They also have the added benefit of reasonably nice fall leaf colors, ranging from yellow to crimson-red.