Description

🍁 Red Snakebark Maple (Acer capillipes)

🌿 Full Product Description

Acer capillipes, known as Red Snakebark Maple, is one of the most striking members of the snakebark maple group—celebrated for its ornamental bark, refined branching, and brilliant fall color. Native to the cool mountain forests of Japan, this species is prized by collectors for its elegant structure and four‑season appeal.

The hallmark of Red Snakebark Maple is its distinctive bark, marked with vertical white stripes against a background of deep green to reddish‑brown. As the tree matures, the bark becomes even more dramatic, especially in winter when the leafless canopy reveals the full patterning.

Leaves are large, three‑lobed, and a rich green through summer before turning fiery shades of red, orange, and gold in autumn—often rivaling Japanese maples in intensity. New shoots and young stems frequently display a reddish tint, adding to the tree’s ornamental value.

Red Snakebark Maple thrives in cool climates with moist, well‑drained soils. It prefers partial sun to dappled shade, especially in hot-summer regions, and performs beautifully in woodland gardens, specimen plantings, and collector landscapes. Its combination of bark, foliage, and seasonal color makes it one of the most refined small maples available.

Key Features

• Distinctive striped bark with white vertical markings
• Brilliant fall color in red, orange, and gold
• Refined, elegant branching with four‑season interest
• Reddish young stems add spring and summer ornament
• Ideal for collectors and woodland landscapes

Growth & Habit

• Height: 20–35 ft
• Spread: 15–25 ft
• Growth rate: Moderate
• Form: Upright, spreading small tree

Site Requirements

• Light: Full sun to part shade (prefers afternoon shade in hot climates)
• Soil: Moist, well‑drained loam; dislikes drought and compaction
• Moisture: Moderate, consistent moisture preferred

Landscape Uses

• Specimen tree
• Woodland gardens
• Japanese‑style landscapes
• Four‑season ornamental plantings
• Collector maple collections