Moose Maple, Mountain Maple
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Average mature size of 10-30' and 10-30' wide. Shrub or small, short trunked tree of bushy appearance. Slow to medium growth rate.

Native Range

U.S. Native — Labrador to Saskatchewan, south to northern Georgia and Iowa. Introduced 1750.

Flower and Fruit Details

Flowers are small, perfect, greenish-yellow, borne in erect 3-6" long racemes, in June. Each flower on a slender stalk about 0.5" long. Fruits are winged samaras, with wings diverging at an acute or right angle, essentially glabrous at maturity, about 1" long, nutet 0.5" long.

Leaf and Bark Features

Leaves opposite, simple, 3-lobed or sometimes slightly 5-lobed, 2-5" long and wide, dark yellowish green and smooth above, paler beneath and covered with a short grayish down. Yellow, orange and red in fall. Bark is thin, brownish or grayish-brown, smooth, eventually becoming slightly furrowed or warty.

Culture and Care

Prefers cool, shady, acid, moist situations, similar to where it is found in the wild. Transplant balled and burlapped. Zones 3 to higher elevations of Zone 7. No serious disease or insect problems.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

Not well adapted to civilization.

Suggested Uses

Use in native areas; limited uses elsewhere.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA