Acer capillipes – Red snake-bark maple

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Aceraceae

Acer capillipes – Red snake-bark maple

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Very beautiful small tree with the striking feature of the conspicuously grey-white striped bark. This is best visible when juvenile. When the trunk grows thicker this remarkable feature fades gradually. The young twigs are of a shiny red. The dark green leaves have three pointed lobes. In autumn they turn from orange-red to deep red. The flowers grow in long, pendent racemes, the winged seeds turn from light green to red-brown. A. capillipes has a half open, wide, vase shaped crown. The plant does not like a very windy site. A. capillipes likes a lightly acid soil. The plant roots shallow with a strongly branching root system. This tree of Japanese origin was imported to the west by Charles Sargent in 1892. A. capillipes is best used as a solitary in gardens and parks.
Our trees can only be planted when they don't have any leaves. Due to the this we will start delivering again from November 2024.
Availability
Multi-stem (1)
Specifications
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Height
5 - 8 (12) m
Crown
vase shaped, half open: as a shrub with overhanging branches, light, open crown, capricious growing
Bark and branches
conspicuously grey-white striped
Leaf
3/5 lobes, green, 6 - 12 cm long
Autumn colour
orange, red
Flowers
6 - 12 cm long racemes, green-white, May
Fruits
single-seeded, winged, always in pairs
Spines/thorns
None
Toxicity
usually not toxic to people, (large) pets and livestock
Soil type
lightly acid soil
Paving
tolerates no paving
Winter hardiness zone
6a (-23,3 to -20,6 °C)
Wind resistance
moderate
Other resistances
resistant to frost (WH 1 - 6)
Fauna tree
valuable for bees (honey plant), valuable for butterflies
Application
tree containers, roof gardens, small gardens, patio gardens
Shape
clearstem tree, multi-stem treem
Origin
Japan
Clear stem tree Multi-stem tree acid soil clay soil loamy soil peaty soil sandy soil tolerates no paving resistant to frost (WH 1 - 6) vase-shaped 2nd size, between 6 and 12 metres open crown green green average growing all species Attractive autumn colour valuable for bees (honey plant) valuable for butterflies non-toxic (usually) Capricious growing playground tree
Related projects
Private garden with distinctive species
Frequently asked questions
Acer capillipes

Acer capillipes can eventually reach a height of 5 - 8 (12) m, depending on the site and climate conditions.

Acer capillipes is average growing and can eventually reach a height of 5 - 8 (12) m, depending on the site and climate conditions.

The leaves of Acer capillipes turn orange, red in autumn.

The right time to plant Acer capillipes is during the dormancy period. In Western Europe, Acer capillipes with root balls can generally be planted from mid-November to late April, although this depends strongly on the climatic conditions and the species of tree.

Acer capillipes blooms in may.
General