Scientific Name:
Acer pensylvanicum
Pronunciation:
AY-sur pen-sill-VAY-nih-kum
Common Name:
moosewood maple
Family Name:
Sapindaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Leaves opposite, most blades obovate, 12-17cm long x 10-20cm wide, 3 forward-pointing shallow lobes with acuminate tips (there may also be 2 minor lobes towards the base), margins finely toothed, petioles 3-5cm long; racemes pendulous, 7-14cm long, florets yellow, about 1cm wide, imperfect; schizocarps 1.5-2.5cm wide, thick edge of wings at wings at 60-110 degree angle, samaras 1-2cm long. Winter ID: buds opposite, valvate, 2 scaled, red; bark striped green and black.
Habit:
Spreading, Twiggy, Upright
Form:
Oval - vertical
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
7 - 10m
Mature Spread:
5 - 7m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade, Deep shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Accent plant, Shade tree, Specimen plant, Spring interest, Street (boulevard tree), Tall background, Wildlife food, Wind break, Winter interest
Additional Info:
Google. Compare to A. tegmentosum.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Lobed
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Palmate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Summer:
Green-yellow
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Obovate
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Cordate
Margins:
Double serrate, Serrulate
Additional Info:
Spectacular fall colour
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Campanulate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Green-yellow
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr, May
Additional Info:
Same tree can switch between monoecious or dioecious (likely to switch to female with age)
Fruit Type:
Samara, Schizocarp
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Showy, Schizocarps split into samara-like mericarps after dispersal
Bark Morphology:
Showy, Smooth, Multi-stem trunk, Single stem trunk
Bark or Stem Colour:
White, Green, Red
Additional Info:
Green and white stripped bark
Leaf Bud Type:
Ovoid, Stalked, Valvate
Leaf Scar Shape:
Crescent shaped
Propagation:
Seed, Cuttings
Maintenance:
Low
