red snake-bark maple

plant

Also known as: Acer capillipes

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

The red snake-bark maple, scientifically known as Acer capillipes, is a type of maple tree recognized for its distinctive bark. This tree belongs to the genus Acer, which encompasses a large group of ornamental shrubs and trees in the Sapindaceae family.1

Key characteristics of the red snake-bark maple include:
* Bark: Its young bark features vertically striped silvery-white patterns, making it an attractive feature, especially in winter landscaping.1
* Ornamental Value: Like many maples, it is valued for its aesthetic qualities. Maples, in general, are widely planted for their varied forms, sizes, and foliage, with many displaying striking autumn colors.1
* Classification: It is one of several maple species noted for their striped bark, alongside the striped maple (A. pennsylvanicum), Hers's maple (A. hersii), and David's maple (A. davidii).1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

maple
pennsylvanicum), the red snake-bark maple (A. capillipes), the Her’s maple (A. hersii), and the David’s maple (A. davidii). The chalk maple, with whitish bark, is sometimes classified as A. leucoderme, although some authorities consider it a subspecies of sugar maple.
Read More
pennsylvanicum), the red snake-bark maple (A. capillipes), the Her’s maple (A. hersii), and the David’s maple (A. davidii). The chalk maple, with whitish bark, is sometimes classified as A. leucoderme, although some authorities consider it a subspecies of sugar maple.
Read More