Eastern US, Quebec to Wisconsin, south to Georgia
Oval to rounded small tree up to 25 feet tall.
Grows best in light shade, can tolerate full sun in cooler northern climates.
Good tree for naturalizing. Will fit small residential lots well but not adapted to urban conditions.
PInk tinged when unfolding, bright green at maturity. Opposite, simple, 4 to 7 inches long and as much in width, 3 prominent lobes, base cordate, margins serra
Valvate buds with two scales, about .5 inches, bright red in winter. Terminal longer than laterals.
Young stems bright green in the summer turning bright red in the winter. Two year old stems develop white vertical stripes that contrast strongly wit
Dioecious, yellow to yellow-green, May, produced on pendulous, slender 4 to 6 inch long racemes, each 5-petaled flower is .33 in diameter.
Pendulous inflorescences give rise to samaras, .75 to 1 inch long, wings wide spreading.
Seed
'Erythrocladum' - possible the most stunning plant for bark characteristics. The brilliant red stems with striking white stripes are a show stopper. When well sited in front of an evergreen background, people have been known to freeze to death while relishing the view. I was on a 3 year quest for this plant and after a few thousand miles on my car I now have several of these specimens.
