PAPERBARK MAPLE Acer griseum

Attractive cinnamon-colored bark peels to form paper-like rolls along the trunk. Paperbark Maple is an easy to grow, medium-sized tree, ideal for yards.

Type: Hardy tree

Height: 20-30'

Location: Sun or part sun

Hardiness zones: 4-8

Seed size: Large

Note: This plant species is known to cause dermatitis in some individuals.

Seeds per pack: 5

Germination: As with many hardy shrubs, these seeds can benefit from a period of moist cold to help them begin to grow. This is done by giving them a cold 'winter' period (artificial or natural), and then a warming to simulate 'spring', and time to grow! Here's how this can be done:

Obtain a planting container that has holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Place the seeds just under the surface of your growing medium, and water. Place your container in a cold area (but not freezing, perhaps a refrigerator) for 5-6 weeks. Once the cold period is completed, place the container at room temperature for them to germinate. Be sure to keep the soil moist during this entire germination period.

Alternatively, these seeds can also be planted outdoors in fall, winter, or early spring, while temperatures are still cold (but ground is workable) to germinate naturally in spring. Be sure to mark the area where you planted them, and that the soil is consistently moist.