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Similar but less problematic plants:
Acer saccharinum From
Acer saccharum form
Acer x freemanii 'Autumn Blaze' - tree row with fall color
Acer saccharinum is often confused with:
Acer rubrum Acer rubrum
Acer x freemanii 'Autumn Blaze' - tree row with fall color
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Acer leucoderme  Acer leucoderme
Acer rubrum Acer rubrum
Ulmus americana Full Form
Acer saccharinum has some common insect problems:
Common Insect Pests of Maple in North Carolina
Acer saccharinum has some common disease problems:
Common Disease Pests of Maple in North Carolina

Swamp Maple Acer saccharinum

Other plants called Swamp Maple:

Phonetic Spelling
AY-ser sak-kar-EYE-num
Description

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:
  • 'Blair'
  • 'Lutescens'
'Blair', 'Lutescens'
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#full sun tolerant#rain garden#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#native tree#green flowers#yellow flowers#samaras#nectar plant#piedmont#shade garden#woody#spring flowers#winter interest#flowering tree#air pollution tolerant#stream banks#moist soil#fast growing#NC native#well-drained soil#nighttime garden#small and large mammals#native garden#mountains#weak wood#green fruits#summer interest#disturbed areas#spring interest#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#compaction tolerant#flowers early spring#poor soils tolerant#larval host plant#fruits summer#food source summer#deciduous tree#fruits spring#food source spring#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#winter flowers#partial shade tolerant#flood tolerant#flowers late winter#bee friendly#Audubon#wind damage prone#imperial moth#coastal plant#landscape plant sleuths course#wildlife friendly#woodland#illustration
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blair'
  • 'Lutescens'
'Blair', 'Lutescens'
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#full sun tolerant#rain garden#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#native tree#green flowers#yellow flowers#samaras#nectar plant#piedmont#shade garden#woody#spring flowers#winter interest#flowering tree#air pollution tolerant#stream banks#moist soil#fast growing#NC native#well-drained soil#nighttime garden#small and large mammals#native garden#mountains#weak wood#green fruits#summer interest#disturbed areas#spring interest#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#compaction tolerant#flowers early spring#poor soils tolerant#larval host plant#fruits summer#food source summer#deciduous tree#fruits spring#food source spring#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#winter flowers#partial shade tolerant#flood tolerant#flowers late winter#bee friendly#Audubon#wind damage prone#imperial moth#coastal plant#landscape plant sleuths course#wildlife friendly#woodland#illustration
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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