Mother of Gardens
PAPERBARK MAPLE
Acer griseum
The paperbark maple, while not as showy and celebrated as the regal lily, was
one of Wilson's introductions that the plant hunter himself favored most. Its
trifoliate leaves turn vibrant shades of red and orange late in the fall, often
retaining their color well into winter. The common name "paperbark" refers to
the fact that the tree's cinnamon-red bark peels away from the trunk, an
ornamental attribute valued by gardeners.