Swamp Maple Acer saccharinum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Swamp Maple:
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser sak-kar-EYE-num
- Description
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Silver maple is a large shade tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae). It gets its common name from the silvery undersides of its leaves. It is native to eastern North America and can be found in flood plains, along streams or rivers. The Genus name is Latin for maple. The specific epithet means sugary in reference to the sweet sap.
This is a fast-growing tree reaching 50-80 feet tall and 40-60 feet wide with a rounded spreading crown. It will grow in poor acidic wet soils where other trees won't. It is highly adaptable to other soil types and tolerates urban conditions. Plant in full sun to light shade. The roots are shallow and will disturb driveways and sidewalks and invade septic systems and other drains. The wood is weak and breaks easily in storms and with snow loads.
The silvery underside of the leaves looks showy in the wind and the shaggy bark adds additional interest. Fall color is not very showy. Inconspicuous flowers in spring are followed by winged samaras.
Silver maple is closely related to the red maple and will hybridize with it creating the Freeman maple. This tree is a much better choice as it combines the fast growth with stronger wood, less invasive roots and red fall color.
Silver maple can be used as a shade tree, in a rain garden and in areas with poor or wet soil.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems though scale and borers may be present. Verticillium wilt, anthracnose, and canker can affect stressed trees. See potential disease and insect problem fact sheets to the left.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests.
Site: Full sun, Partial Shade
VIDEO created by Grant L. Thompson for “Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines for Landscaping” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blair'
- 'Lutescens'
- 'Blair'
- 'Blair', 'Lutescens'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blair'
- 'Lutescens'
- 'Blair'
- 'Blair', 'Lutescens'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- saccharinum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wood is used for paper pulp. Sap is inferior to sugar maples.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central North America
- Distribution:
- Eastern and central North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Early spring source of nectar for bees. Seeds are eaten by squirrels, chipmunks and birds. Buds are eaten by squirrels after the seeds have sprouted.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Tolerant of poor soils, drought, dry soil and air pollution tolerant.
- Edibility:
- Sap can be used to make syrup
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Open
- Oval
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Samara, not ornamentally important. Wings spreading at an 80 to 90-degree angle. In NC fruit is available in late spring to summer.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Insignificant, greenish-yellow to red flowers in early spring. Regular, pentamerous in racemes, corymbs or umbels. In North Carolina, flowers are available from February to April.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3 to 6 in. opposite, palmately veined leaf with 5 deeply cut lobes; silvery underside; medium green on top, yellow, brown, green combination fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Shaggy
- Bark Description:
- Gray to dark brown bark develops long thin scales with age giving it a shaggu appearance. Inner bark is orange.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy tips
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Lustrous red to brown with a smooth surface. Second year stems becoming gray.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weak Wood