• Photo of Acer davidii (Acer davidiis)

Plant Profile: Acer davidii

Names

Pere David's Maple, Snake Bark Maple, Snakebark Maple

  • Photo of Acer davidii (Acer davidiis)

Phonetic Spelling:AY-ser duh-VID-ee-eye

Genus:Acer

Species:davidii

Family:Sapindaceae

The Snakebark Maple is a small to medium-sized tree that thrives in the understory, native to regions of China and Myanmar. Typically reaching heights of 30 to 50 feet and widths of 20 to 40 feet, it often exhibits a shorter stature with multiple trunks, characterized by its gracefully arching branches and a broad crown. This species belongs to a category of trees recognized for their distinctive striped bark, a trait that tends to diminish with age. Additionally, the Snakebark Maple is celebrated for its vibrant fall foliage.

This tree flourishes in partial shade, particularly in southern climates, as it prefers cooler summer conditions. For optimal growth in landscaping, it should be planted in average, well-drained, and moist soils. However, it may be challenging to source this tree within the United States.

Acer davidii Feature Summary

Acer davidii Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#fall color
#small tree
#shade tree
#wildlife plant
#moths
#deciduous shrub
#winter interest
#street tree
#showy bark
#nighttime garden
#larval host plant
#deciduous tree
#moth larvae
#partial shade tolerant
#pollinator garden
#imperial moth

Similar Plants

Acer davidii Feature Summary

Attributes
Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.
Fruit
Winged nutlet produced in profusion
Flowers
Yellowish male catkins in spring.
Gold/Yellow
Insignificant
Catkin
Leaves
3-6 inch long ovate dark green leaves are mostly unlobed or weakly 3-lobed and have serrated to doubly-serrated margins. Undersides are paler. Excellent yellow, orange and red fall color.
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Serrate
Doubly Serrate
3-6 inches
Bark
The green smooth bark is streaked with green and white. Becomes dull grey-brown at the base of mature trees.
Light Gray
Green
Light Brown
White
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Arching
Multi-trunked
Spreading
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Mountains
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Nighttime Garden
Asian Garden
Shade Tree
Small groups
Street Tree
Small Tree
Understory Tree
Pollinators
Moths

Acer davidii Attributes

Acer davidii: Country Or Region Of Origin

China to Myanmar

Acer davidii: Wildlife Value

Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.

Acer davidii: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Acer davidii Fruit

Acer davidii: Fruit Description

Winged nutlet produced in profusion

Acer davidii: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Acer davidii: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Acer davidii Flowers

Acer davidii: Flower Description

Yellowish male catkins in spring.

Acer davidii: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Acer davidii: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Acer davidii: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Acer davidii Leaves

Acer davidii: Leaf Description

3-6 inch long ovate dark green leaves are mostly unlobed or weakly 3-lobed and have serrated to doubly-serrated margins. Undersides are paler. Excellent yellow, orange and red fall color.

Acer davidii: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Acer davidii: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Acer davidii: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Orange
spa
Red/Burgundy

Acer davidii: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Acer davidii: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Acer davidii: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Acer davidii: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Acer davidii: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Acer davidii Bark

Acer davidii: Bark Description

The green smooth bark is streaked with green and white. Becomes dull grey-brown at the base of mature trees.

Acer davidii: Bark Color

grass
Green
grass
Light Brown
grass
Light Gray
grass
White

Acer davidii Whole Plant Traits

Acer davidii: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Acer davidii: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Acer davidii: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Acer davidii: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Acer davidii: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Acer davidii Cultural Conditions

Acer davidii: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Acer davidii: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Acer davidii: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Acer davidii: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Acer davidii: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b

Acer davidii: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Acer davidii Stem

Acer davidii: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Acer davidii Landscape

Acer davidii: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Acer davidii: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Acer davidii: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Acer davidii: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees