Paperbark maple

Paperbark maple: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Small tree with an open, rounded crown, often with a short trunk or several stems; 6–10 m after many years.

Bark

Cinnamon to orange-brown, peeling in thin, papery curls that stay attached for a long time.

Leaves

Made up of three leaflets, dark green with a blue-grey underside; red and orange in autumn.

Flowers

Small, yellow-green, hanging flowers in April and May, together with the young leaves.

Fruit

Paired winged seeds like other maples, but often without viable seed.

Flowering: April–May · Plants: March–April and October–December · Pruning: November–December

Why grow it?

• One of the finest barks of any tree, at its best in winter.
• Superb red and orange autumn colour.
• Stays small and grows slowly: suitable for a smaller garden or front garden.
• An elegant, open crown that casts little shade.
• Needs hardly any pruning and is fully hardy.

Paperbark maple: where does it grow best?

• Sun or partial shade; autumn colour is brightest in sun.
• Free-draining sandy, loamy or clay soil, acid to chalky, that does not dry out.
• Moist soil: no waterlogging, but no bone-dry soil either.
• A spot sheltered from cold, drying winds.
• Allow 4–5 m from buildings and other trees.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

8 m tall, 6 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Snowdrop: A white carpet under the bare branches in February, beside the cinnamon trunk.
• Winter aconite: Small yellow flowers at its feet in February, a lovely contrast with the bark.
• Christmas rose: Winter flowers in the partial shade under the crown.
• Barrenwort: A low ground cover that copes with the shade and roots under the tree.

Paperbark maple: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and October–December.

1. Plant from October to December or in March–April, when the ground is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper, and loosen the bottom.
3. Set the tree so the root flare is just at ground level, then firm the soil.
4. Put in a short stake at an angle on the windward side and tie the trunk loosely.
5. Water in with a large bucket of water straight away, even if it is raining.
6. Spread a mulch around the base, but keep a 10 cm ring around the trunk clear.

Care

Watering

For the first two to three years, one or two buckets a week in dry weather. After that only in long droughts.

Feeding

A thin layer of compost under the crown in spring is enough.

Mulching

Leaf mould or wood chips under the crown keep the soil cool and moist.

Stake

Check the tie every spring and remove the stake after two or three years.

Bark

Do not pull off the loose bark: it falls by itself, and the curls are what make it special.

Tip: Plant it where the low winter sun shines from behind the trunk, or close to a path or terrace: backlit, the peeling bark seems to glow. Never pull off the loose curls, they are its charm.

Paperbark maple: when to prune it?

Pruning months: November–December.

When: As little as possible. If you must, do it in November or December, when the tree is dormant.

How:

• Remove only dead, damaged or crossing branches.
• Cut just outside the swollen collar at the base of the branch, without leaving a stub.
• To show more of the trunk, gradually remove the lowest branches over a few years.
• Use sharp, clean tools so the wounds close quickly.

Caution: Never prune in late winter or spring: the tree then bleeds heavily from the pruning cuts.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Sow fresh seed in autumn in a pot or tray outdoors and let the winter cold do its work. Expect few seedlings: many seeds are empty. Buying a young tree is much easier.

Paperbark maple: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Fully hardy, to about −25 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
• Winter is when the tree looks its best: the cinnamon bark glows in the low sunlight.
• If pruning is really needed, do it in November or December, before the sap starts rising.
• Stand a young tree in a pot against a sheltered wall, with the pot wrapped in hessian.

Diseases and pests

• Leaf scorch: Brown, dried-out leaf edges caused by drought, strong sun or cold wind. Water, mulch and choose a sheltered spot.
• Verticillium wilt: Branches suddenly wilt in summer, with brown streaks in the wood. There is no cure: cut affected branches back into healthy wood and do not plant another maple in that spot.
• Aphids: Sticky honeydew on the leaves. Usually no real harm; ladybirds and birds clear them up.
• Slow growth: Not a problem, just its nature. Give young trees enough water and they will grow steadily.

Through the year

• January: Enjoy the bark in the low winter light.
• March: Plant. Check the stake. Mulch. Do not prune: the tree bleeds.
• April: Small yellow-green flowers with the young leaves. Plant.
• May: Water young trees in dry weather.
• July: Water in long dry spells, especially in the first years.
• August: Water in dry weather.
• October: Red and orange autumn colour. Plant. Sow fresh seed.
• November: Plant. Prune only if really necessary.
• December: Plant. Prune only if really necessary. The bark decorates the garden.

Did you know?

• Ernest Wilson brought the paperbark maple to Europe from central China in 1901.
• Many of its winged seeds are empty. That makes it hard to propagate, and a large tree fairly expensive.
• Its leaves are made up of three leaflets, which is unusual for a maple.