Acer spicatum Moosewood, also known as mountain maple, is a deciduous shrub or small tree that is native to northeastern North America from Saskatchewan to Newfoundland and south to Pennsylvania. It is a hardy and adaptable species with a spreading crown, short trunk, and slender branches. The leaves are opposite and simple, turning brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and scarlet in autumn. The plant produces paired reddish samaras that mature in late summer or early autumn.
Mountain maple thrives in moist woods with rich, well-drained soils, but can also grow in ravines, cliff faces, and forested bogs. During ecological succession, it colonizes the understory as pioneer species die. In addition to its ornamental value, mountain maple has a variety of practical uses. The sap can be boiled to make maple syrup, and the bark contains tannins that are used in tanning leather. Indigenous peoples infused the piths of young twigs to produce treatments for eye irritation and made poultices from boiled root chips.
Mountain maple is an understory or subcanopy component in a number of northeastern forest associations. It is usually scattered in climax types, such as spruce-fir or sugar maple. The most common understory associates of mountain maple include hobblebush, striped maple, pin cherry, American mountain-ash, beaked hazel, speckled alder, green alder, red-osier dogwood, and red raspberry. The ground layer associates vary with cover type.
Mountain maple is a great addition to any garden due to its striking fall color and hardiness. It is also a practical plant with a variety of uses. Whether you are an avid gardener or interested in sustainable living practices, Acer spicatum Moosewood is a species worth considering.
