Acer pensylvanicum
Striped Maple
An understory tree favorite at the Arboretum is the Striped Maple named for the light vertical lines running down its trunk. It is also known as Goosefoot Maple for the shape of its leaves or Moosewood because its bark, twigs and buds are enjoyed by moose. The bark remains smooth throughout the tree’s life but the color shifts from bright to dark green or to the rarer reddish-brown as the tree matures. The swelling crimson bud of the striped maple is a beautiful sight in the early spring and the emergence of new leaves is striking. Later, toward May or early June, cascading yellow-green flowers emerge. Striped Maple only grows to around 30ft and adds to the “vertical diversity” of the forest by providing an intermediate cover for animals between shrubs and larger trees.