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.