Mountain maple is a native deciduous shrub or small tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) found in the NE USA and in the mountains south to GA. Slow to moderate grower reaching 10–25 ft. tall and wide with a bushy spreading crown and a short trunk. Plant in full sun to partial shade. It prefers cool, shady, moist soil. The lobed leaves turn brilliant yellow, orange to red in autumn and are on slender stalks usually longer than the blade. The spring flowers are followed by paired winged samaras in fall. The sap is a source of sugar and can be boiled to make maple syrup. The bark contains tannins, which are used in tanning leather. This tree is not well-adapted to cultivation so is difficult to find at nurseries. It could be used in naturalized areas and is suited to the mountains of NC. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. See potential disease and insect problem fact sheets to the left. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests. More information on Acer .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Mountains
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
2 to 5 in. opposite, simple, leaves with 3 or sometimes slightly 5 lobes; yellow, orange to red fall color.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, greenish yellow flowers in early summer
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
Paired reddish samara 3⁄4–1 1⁄4 in. long, maturing in late summer to early autumn
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
Thin, brownish or grayish brown. Smooth eventually becoming slightly furrowed or scaly.
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Young stems grayish-yellow developing purplish red, often greenish on one side.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Northeastern North America
Distribution
Saskatchewan to Newfoundland, to Pennsylvania, to high elevations of the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.