Native to Central China
Small, deciduous maple growing about 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide
Grows in most soil conditions and requires either full sun or partial shade.
Supports the imperial moth, among other insect species, as well as producing small samaras which are a food source for birds.
Compound, palmate leaves differ greatly from most maple leaves, which are simple and lobed. These leaves are green to gray colored with silver hairs on the underside and remain on the tree well into winter.
Hardiness zone 4-8
Sentimental and Symbolic Value
Maples symbolize stability and endurance due to their hardiness, as well as change and progress due to their vibrant fall colors.
It is a common heraldic symbol, being the symbol of Canada and the city of Hiroshima, among many other places. In east Asian cultures, the paperbark maple in particular is associated with honor and love, and its leaves are a common motif in the ukiyo-e (浮世絵) art style of Japan.
Specimen photographed found at the Arnold Arboretum, Boston, Massachusetts. Part of the Ornamental Trees assignment (11/3/2021).
Plant History and Etymology
Acer is Latin for "maple", and griseum derives from a German loanword into medieval Latin, meaning "gray". The tree is native to the inland central Chinese provinces of Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Sichuan, where it lived in small populations at high altitudes. It was first formally noted by Pere-Paul Guillaume Farges near Chengkou in Chongqing, Sichuan province in 1892. It was introduced to the West by Ernest H. "Chinese" Wilson, a notable British botanist who introduced almost 2000 species to the US and UK. It was first introduced to the US via the Arnold Arboretum, where it became well known for its "handsome [...] and hardy" look.
Design Considerations
This maple species is prized for its unique aesthetics, boasting a purple-brown peeling bark which fallls back to reveal a red interior. The leaves are of an interesting shape, turn to vibrant shades of yellow and red in the fall, and persist for a long time into winter. Its form is compact and erect, making it an ideal specimen or accent tree for small spaces such as domestic gardens and streets. It is also a great source of shade.
Sources
“Acer Griseum (Paper Bark Maple, Paperbark Maple) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.” 2021. Ncsu.edu. 2021. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/acer-griseum/.
Aiello, Anthony. "Acer griseum in cultivation and in the wild". In The Plantsman. December 2016. https://www.publicgardens.org/sites/default/files/images/PCN/The%20Plantsman%20Dec16%20Acer%20griseum.pdf.
“Maple: Symbolism, Information and Planting Instructions.” 2014. Bios Urn. August 6, 2014. https://urnabios.com/maple-planting-instructions-bios-urn/.