Water Maple Acer saccharinum

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 is often found in flood plains, along streams or rivers, or low-lying woodlands.  It has attractive gray to dark brown bark that as the tree matures develops a shaggy appearance as the bark develops long, thin, flaky scales that exfoliate at the ends.  This tree grows at a rapid pace and has a graceful form, making it once a very popular landscape tree.  It has fallen out of favor recently because of its weak wood and tendency toward breakage.  It would make an excellent addition to a rain garden as it can grow in areas of poor soil or wet conditions where other stronger wooded trees cannot.  It  also thrives in poor acidic soil where few other trees could grow. Specific epithet means sugary in reference to the sweet sap.

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. Silver maples grow rapidly so they tend to have weak brittle branches that are susceptible to breaking in high winds or when coated with ice/snow in winter. Shallow roots may damage nearby sidewalks. 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.