Trees

Acer capillipes

Red snake-bark maple

Also known as: Snakebark maple · Kyushu maple

Red snake-bark maple. Photo: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons, CC0.

A graceful Japanese maple grown for olive-green bark traced with pale vertical stripes and contrasting red young shoots. Its three-lobed green leaves turn gold, orange and red in autumn. A spreading crown and patterned winter bark make it a useful specimen where its trunk can be appreciated up close.

At a glance

Sun: Full sun to dappled shade
Size: Height: Up to about 30 ft in cultivation · Width: About 20 ft
Water: Moist but well-drained soil
Hardiness: USDA 5–7

Sizes & prices

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Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.

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Landscape use & tree form

Use: Shade tree; ornamental bark specimen
Form: Rounded, often multi-trunked
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Resistance & tolerances

Drought: Maintain moderate soil moisture; irrigate during dry spells.
Wet soil: Needs well-drained soil; unsuitable for persistent waterlogging.

Pollinators & wildlife

Caterpillar host: Moths
Evidence: Genus-level guidance; cultivar habitat value varies.

Seasonal interest

Foliage: Green; gold, orange and red in fall
Bark: Green and silver striped bark; coral-red new shoots
Fruit: Small winged seeds (samaras) in fall

Growing & care

Soil: Acidic, medium-moist, well-drained soil; performs best with cool roots.
Placement: Shelter from harsh winds
Pruning: Prune lightly, removing dead, damaged or rubbing branches while preserving the natural outline. For elective cuts, wait until the leaves are fully expanded to reduce maple sap bleeding; large limbs need a qualified arborist.

Sources & photo credits

Future Forests

Kew Science, Plants of the World Online

Ebben Nurseries

University of Minnesota Extension

NC State Extension

Iowa State University Extension

Photo: Daderot · CC0 1.0

Image notes: Red snake-bark maple. Photo: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Wikimedia 960 px thumbnail; no other edits.

Reviewed September 22, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.