North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees

Aceraceae

Uncommon in NC and found at high elevations, Mountain Maple has erect spikes of flower.

Leaves are coarsely toothed and shallowly lobed.

Distinguishing them from Striped Maple, Mountain Maple leaves are rougher with the secondary and tertiary veins strongly protruding from the under leaf surface. Mountain Maples have a whitish pubescence below.

Common and found in rich woods in the mountains in NC, the flower clusters are found in the spring and are normally pendant but are often seen wind-blown to the tops of the leaves.

Striped Maple is named for the vertical stripes on its bark.

This maple hosted what appeared to be some very ornate-looking scale insects being tended by ants!

Common across NC, Red Maple is found in a many different habitats and is one of the first trees to flower, starting in late winter. Shown here are the fruits, which are the familiar "helicopter" seeds known to most schoolkids!