Acer capillipes Tree

The joy of Acer capillipes is in its striated snakeskin-like bark, hence why its common name is Snake Bark Maple! The bark is smooth and olive green with cream and brown vertical stripes. The distinctively shaped, three pointed foliage, attach to the stems by a bright red petiole, and turn from green to various shades of red, orange and yellow in autumn highlighting the long green fruits. Small yellow-green flowers emerge in spring.

Despite all of these glowing attributes, it is the grey-white striped bark that is the best feature of this lovely Acer variety. The tree itself is spreading, with a vase shaped crown, with red tipped branches which arch to a gently weeping effect, making this a structurally beautiful tree. Expect an approximate height and spread of 5 x 4 metres in 20 years.

Acer capillipes was introduced from Japan in 1892 by Charles Prague Sargent, the first director of Harvard University's Arnold Arboretum.

AKA Snake Bark Maple, Red Snakebark Maple, Kyushu Maple tree

• Common name: Snake bark maple tree
• Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
• Height and spread in 20 years: 5 x 4 metres
• Bark: Patterned bark provides year round interest, particularly in winter
• Foliage: Green leaves turn shades of yellow, orange and red in autumn
• Soil: Plant in moist, free-draining sites in any soil type

Planting Advice for Acer capillipes Trees

Our pot grown Snake Bark Maple trees can be planted at any time of the year. Prepare your planting site by removing weeds and grass within a metre of your desired planting hole. Dig a square hole as deep as the root mass and roughly 2x as wide. To help the tree establish more effectively, sprinkle root grow in the hole.

Remove the pot, gently loosen the roots and place the root mass in the planting hole so that the surface is flush with the surrounding ground. Using 50% of the original soil and 50% compost, fill in the hole and firm around gently.

We recommend planting Acer capillipes Snake Bark Maple trees with a staking kit. For single stakes, knock the stake in at an angle and use a buckle tie with a spacer to prevent chaffing. Finish by watering generously around the base. For more advice, visit the help section.

Aftercare Advice for Acer capillipes Trees

Snake Bark Maples require a good watering regime for the first couple of years. Water well and regularly throughout spring and summer, increasing in periods of hot or dry weather. If planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little.

Keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons. Our complete planting kits contain an irrigation system and rabbit guard, as well as the rootgrow and staking kits mentioned above.

Pruning Acer capillipes Trees

Acer capillipes Snake Bark Maple trees are easy to look after and do not require a lot of pruning. Remove any damaged or diseased branches when the tree is in leaf or just after leaf fall. This will prevent bleeding, which although it is not detrimental, can look unsightly. When pruning, make sure to maintain an even framework, step back and assess your work and prune proportionately.

Delivery Costs

*Free delivery promotion excludes mature trees, extra large kits and delivery to Highlands or Islands. Discount applies at checkout.

Delivery Times

Next Day Despatch
We will always try to get your plants to you as quickly as possible.  For many of our trees and plants, if you order today we will despatch your order within 24 hours.  We are constantly adding to our range of next day plants, and we do not add a surcharge for this service. Click here to see our next day delivery plants.

Standard Delivery
We have one of the widest range of trees in the UK, and for those plants which we cannot despatch next day we will normally despatch within 4 weeks. The despatch time for different products will be confirmed when products are added to your shopping basket

Pre-orders
We will only want to deliver your orders when they are perfect for planting! Depending on the season and how well the plants are growing, we will give our best estimates of the despatch dates for pre-orders.  These dates may vary and by species and while we will always try to deliver within these timeframes if the expected despatch does change then we will notify you by email.

Special Orders
Orders containing pleached or mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) are delivered within 3 weeks. They require specialist delivery and are grouped geographically. Any customers ordering pleached or mature trees will be contacted and notified of their delivery date.

If your trees are required by a specific date, please let us know as soon as possible; while we can’t offer any guarantees we will always do our best to accommodate you. You can leave instructions in the notes field on the Delivery Page of the Checkout or send us an email at [email protected].

Please note that orders are shipped once all the trees in the order are ready.

Collections
Collections are by appointment only at our West Yorkshire-based nursery. If you would like to place an order for collection, please get in touch before placing your order. You will not be charged a delivery cost for a collection and any delivery cost that has been applied will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. *Pot sizes may vary. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem tree: Classic tree with one trunk, pruned for a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted tree: A height next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Ideal for small spaces.

Feathered tree: Branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem tree: Two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that give the appearance of a bushy multi stem tree.

Climber: Naturally climbing plant. Usually delivered running up a cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height.