After germination, keep the seedlings watered and weeded. Nursery stock grown below 6000 feet leafs out earlier. The leaves grow in pairs opposite one another at the stem nodes. In our SE it prefers cooler north and east facing slopes in the understory of larger trees. Family: Aceraceae. This tall shrub is extremely important in riparian systems, where the dense layering that occurs from roots and new shoots helps to prevent erosion on banks. Though it may have a single dominant stem, Rocky Mountain maple most often … Shrubs are woody plants, generally under 20 feet (6.1m) and have many slender diverging stems extending from their base. Acclimate plants by gradually exposing them to mountain conditions over a period of several days or weeks. Rocky Mountain maple, Acer glabrum, is a branching, sometimes tree-like, shrub that can reach heights of 15 to 30 feet. The Rocky Mountain maple is significantly more compact than its cousins in other states. 2) Amelanchier alnifolia: Saskatoon Service-Berry (pg. Mountain maple is uniquely adapted to manage susceptibility to heavy browsing, to the point where shrubs are more productive when they are browsed thoroughly and frequently. Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum Torr Introduction. These shrubfields result from canopy removal by repeated severe fires. List of Maple Shrubs, Acer Genus - All known species, taxa on Earth, organized by scientific Latin botanical name first and common names second. Maples found in Canada range from trees 40 metres or more tall (e.g., bigleaf maple, Acer macrophyllum) to shrubs less than 10 metres high (e.g. The twigs tend to be green or reddish and often a combination of the two, and they are finely pubescent. ), please check the links and invasive species pages for additional resources. It is most easily identified by the opposite paired arrangement of its leaves and branches and its 3lobed leaf with coarse teeth. Discover (and save!) The flowers produce the notable two-winged fruit typical of all maple plants. For info on subjects other than plant identification (gardening, invasive species control, edible plants, etc. Very ornamental; dark red twigs, fruit tinged red, yellow fall color. Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, part shade, sun; moist; forests, thickets, conifer swamps. Ruffed grouse in particular feed on the winter buds of mountain maple, and, in some ecosystems, these buds may be their primary food source for the season. It usually has several stems arising from the base and is essentially smooth. Leafed-out plants should be planted after the last frost, up until mid-August. At the Macphail Woods nursery, we collect seeds in the fall once they start to dry. Drought and partial shade tolerance. Leaves ovate-cordate, glabrous, 3–12 cm across, 3- to 5-lobed, doubly serrate; petioles red. Mountain maple can grow to 6 inches in diameter, but I don’t think this happens very often. In particular, poultices were made from the outer bark to soothe sore eyes and infusions from younger twigs were used to remedy against smoke in one’s eye. Mountain maple is an excellent soil stabilizer and is a significant plant in riparian areas. Off-island, mountain maple buds provide ample forage for deer and moose. To find mountain maple, look in these habitats for a tall, many-stemmed shrub with thin, grayish-brown bark that is smooth on the small stems and has shallow fissures on larger ones. Wings about 20 mm. The leaves are 5-12cm long and have 3 main lobes, bordered by prominent saw … Form. Then we plant the seeds so that they are almost touching, in rows 4” (10cm) apart in a nursery bed. Species: spicatum. Leaves are simple and opposite, the blade up to 5½ inches long and nearly as wide, heart-shaped at the base, with 3 to 5 palmate lobes. This distinction is based on the size and stem of the plant. The two basal lobes are typically no more than a larger tooth along the serrated edge. However, despite their aptitude for cleared land, the plants are also shade tolerate and do well as understory vegetation. Note: All comments are moderated before posting to keep the riff-raff out. Fuels in persistent shrubfields consist primarily of the shrubs … Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it? Rather, vegetative propagation is much more widespread. Help to restore native species and seed sources, protect at-risk areas, enhance wildlife habitat and more. It also grows at high elevations in the southern Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia. In mountain areas, the best time to plant trees and shrubs is as early in spring as the soil can be worked, provided that the planting stock is fully dormant. https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/acegla/all.html Deer, elk, cattle, and sheep browse the foliage. In Minnesota it is frequent along the north shore of Lake Superior and up through the Arrowhead, becoming less common westward. Pick an image for a larger view. The leaves are easily told apart from Red Maple by their rugose texture -- the veins are deeply impressed in the leaf. Shrub and Vine Seeds Shrub Seeds Vine Seeds ALL. Keys on short, sometimes branched, stalks. New growth may not be hardened enough to withstand the current conditions at higher elevation at planting time. 11) Artemisia tridentate: Big Sagebrush (pg. Where in Minnesota? Habitat: 5500 ft. - 9000 ft. (1650 m. - 2700 m.), in moist montane areas. Mountain maple is the smallest of our native maple species. They should not be confused with the desirable maple species when performing management practices such as thinning or release cuts. Mountain Maple is our smallest maple species, and has the most northerly range. Shrubs are woody plants, generally under 20 feet (6.1m) and have many slender diverging stems extending from their base. An email address is required, but will not be posted—it will only be used for information exchange between the 2 of us (if needed) and will never be given to a 3rd party without your express permission. Seral shrubfields have also been maintained with prescribed fire. Arranged around a central stem in drooping clusters. Most are from […] Mountain Maple produces small keys that are eaten by moose and deer in the spring. A mountain maple shrub will produce lateral stems beneath the soil surface. View All Mountain Maple, Moosewood ACER spicatum . It prefers moist soils, especially along canyons and mountain slopes in coniferous forests. This maple may be small but the impact it has on landscape designs is large! The variety is named after David Douglas, Relationships: There are nearly 150 species of maples worldwide. The wings form an angle near 90 degrees. See Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Transplant to give them more space as needed, once the true leaves have appeared. In Minnesota it is frequent along the north shore of Lake Superior and up through the Arrowhead, becoming less common westward. Angle between wings less than 90°. Douglas Maple Acer glabrum var. The stalk is less than or equal to the length of the blade and is typically quite red. Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06. Flower stalks are ¼ to 3/8 inch long and hairy. Mountain Maple White Maple Aceraceae (Maple Family) Description. As its name suggests, it is a cool temperature species and in its eastern US range it only goes south in the higher elevations of the Appalachians. 10) Arctostaphylos uva-ursi: Red Bearberry (pg. Scientific name: Acer glabrum. At its tallest, it reaches only 30 feet and is usually considered a shrub, rather than a tree. Be a part of something big and join us in making healthy Island forests a reality. Large monoecious or dioecious, shrubs or small trees up to 15 m. Twigs glabrous, red to purple. In June, the shrub produces tiny white flowers on long erect stems. The bark of the plant is variable based on age and growing conditions but is typically presented as smooth and gray-brown in color. Beaver, snowshoe hare, and ruffed grouse all browse heavily on mountain maple buds on Prince Edward Island. Maples are generally deciduous, with light-coloured, straight-grained wood. Rocky Mountain maple … The leaves are regularly toothed and shallowly lobed and the buds have only two conspicuous outer scales ("valvate" buds). Acer campestre: Field Maple, Hedge Maple, Érable champêtre, Feldahorn, Massholder, Spaanse aak, Veldesdoorn Short white hairs adorn the underside of the leaf, while the upper surface is light green from spring through the summer and turns a vibrant red-orange in the fall. These stems will infiltrate surrounding areas and in time break the surface as “new” shrubs. One year old twigs are brown to reddish, sometimes with a purplish cast, and hairy. Bring … This distinction is based on the size and stem of the plant. Or as a cocktail by combining 1 ounce of gin or vodka with 1 tablespoon shrub over ice and topped with club soda. Rocky Mountain maple is usually tall and spindly in closed stands, with a more dense and brushy growth form in open stands. Glabrum means smooth, without hair, referring to its smooth stems and leaves. The trunk diameter is 4 to 8 inches, short, with short, slender, upright branches. Funding provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. In comparison to other maples, mountain maple has the most northerly range and can tolerate a cold climate. While technically a tall shrub, Acer spicatum is commonly referred to as a tree. Seedcase indented on one side. At maturity, it can exceed 25 feet high. Mountain maple is the smallest of our native maple species. General - : A tall and spreading shrub, 3 - 8 m tall; bark thin, dull, reddish to greyish brown, smooth or slightly grooved; twigs slender, yellowish green to reddish brown, coated with very short grey hairs; buds slender, stalked, covered with grey hairs. It grows on wetlands, stream banks and slopes. Therefore, their short size and lack of one distinct trunk classify mountain maple as a shrub, rather than a tree. Saw-toothed edges are present on all leaves. Source: Maya Gardens Inc. All flowers are greenish yellow, about 3/16 of an inch across, with 5 lance-linear petals between 1/16 to over 1/8 inch long and 5 obscure sepals 1/16 inch long or less. NPS photo by D. Biddle. Older branches and trunk are mottled gray, smooth or somewhat rough. Mountain Maple is the smallest of Minnesota's native Acer species, growing as a tall shrub or small tree. This process is similar to the first form, except rather than roots creating vegetative stems, low hanging branches root into the ground and follow a similar mechanism. I have a great photograph if you wish to use. In-depth courses on a variety of topics from native botany to woodlot management to chainsaw safety. Help support this site ~ Information for sponsor opportunities. Mountain Maple is the smallest of Minnesota's native Acer species, growing as a tall shrub or small tree. It is usually scattered in climax types, such as spruce-fir or sugar maple; it attains shrub-layer dominance in mid-seral types and occasionally will form a dense, continuous shrub layer in disturbed forests. 9) Aesculus californica: California Buckeye (pg. However, the history of their usage by Indigenous peoples is ample. Rocky Mountain Maple is the most northern member of the maple family found in the Rockies.. Characteristics: This many-stemmed large shrub can reach a maximum height of 20 to 25 feet. Your Name: In the spring, the mulch is removed to allow the soil to warm. When you want an attractive deciduous tree or shrub, the beautiful Rocky Mountain maple is a Colorado favorite. Other names for the tree include dwarf maple (for its short size) or moose maple (for its attractiveness as a food source for moose in other provinces). Your email address: (required) rose-fruit Rocky Mountain maple, Sierra maple, California mountain maple, New Mexico maple, box maple, rock maple, dwarf maple, Uses Rocky Mountain maple is planted to a limited extent to improve wildlife habitat, to stabilize slopes, and to provide low-maintenance landscaping. Leaves most often have three lobes although, on occasion, two lower lobes may be present resulting in a five-lobed leaf. They thrive along stream banks and other riparian areas. Mountain Maple is an uncommon small tree found at higher elevations in the Mountains of North Carolina. The striking red bark and contrasting light green leaves, turning red in the fall, make it a desirable ornamental shrub. Stir and then strain the mixture through a sieve into a glass jar. Spikes of flowers appear in late spring. The Latin species name, meaning "hairless," refers to the leaves. Trunks are multiple in clumps, rarely getting over 3 inches in diameter at breast height (dbh). Cover the seeds with about ¼” (.64cm) of soil, and mulch for the winter. Botanical Name: ACER spicatum . The mountain maple (Acer spicatum) is a large deciduous shrub or small tree which can attain heights of 20 to 30 feet. The Rocky Mountain Maple is a deciduous shrub, small dwarf tree or clump. For this species, seed dispersal is not the primary means of reproduction. Fruit is a pair of winged seeds (samara), that can be up to 1½ inches long but more typically around an inch, and often turning bright red. In … Upper surface is dark green and smooth, but strongly textured by the veins, the lower surface is paler with fine hairs. Incurved. Rocky Mountain Maple Leaves and seeds. Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest, Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Aitkin, Cook and Lake counties. If these species occur in a sugarbush it is important to be able to identify them. 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