Père David’s maple (snakebark maple) Acer davidii
Père David’s maple (snakebark maple) (Acer davidii) is a deciduous perennial tree in the Sapindaceae family, native to Central and south-west China and northern Myanmar. It grows 8–15 m (26–49 ft) tall and 6–10 m (20–33 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -20 °C (-4 °F). Space plants about 7 m (23 ft) apart.
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Père David’s maple (snakebark maple) at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Sapindaceae |
| Mature height | 8–15 m (26–49 ft) |
| Mature spread | 6–10 m (20–33 ft) |
| Spacing | 7 m (23 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -20 °C (-4 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 6) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 32 °C (90 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Central and south-west China and northern Myanmar |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇨🇳 China |
Is Père David’s maple (snakebark maple) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not known to be poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Père David’s maple (snakebark maple)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
Questions about Père David’s maple (snakebark maple)
- How far apart should I plant Père David’s maple (snakebark maple)?
- About 7 m (23 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 6–10 m (20–33 ft).
- Does Père David’s maple (snakebark maple) need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Père David’s maple (snakebark maple) need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Père David’s maple (snakebark maple)?
- It tolerates about -20 °C (-4 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 6.
- When does Père David’s maple (snakebark maple) flower?
- From about April for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Père David’s maple (snakebark maple) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not known to be poisonous.
- What grows well with Père David’s maple (snakebark maple)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Père David’s maple (snakebark maple). Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Flora of China, Missouri Botanical Garden & Harvard University Herbaria (eFloras)
- RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
Notes and assumptions
- A plant of the cool, misty Himalayan and west Chinese mountains: it wants moist, humus-rich soil and shelter from hot sun and drying wind, and sulks in hot, humid summers.
- A snakebark maple: green bark striped with white like a snake’s skin, unlobed glossy leaves turning yellow and orange, and hanging chains of winged seeds. Named after the missionary-naturalist Armand David, who found it in 1869.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- Red maple Acer rubrum
- Lychee Litchi chinensis
- Longan Dimocarpus longan
- Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum
- Sugar maple Acer saccharum
- Norway maple Acer platanoides
- Field maple Acer campestre