Acer saccharum
Common Name(s):
- Northern Sugar Maple
- Sugar Maple
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser sa-KAR-um
- Description
Sugar maple is a fast growing shade tree with striking fall color in the Sapindaceae family. It is a popular tree in the Eastern U.S. hardwood forest and is one of the trees which is most responsible for giving New England its reputation for spectacular fall color. It is a vigorous feeder and is very easy to grow. This tree tolerates heavy shade and can be planted in a lawn. It is used as a tree where compaction and pollution are not a problem. Because of its slow growth rate it makes strong wood that is resistant to storm damage.
Seasons of Interest:
Leaves: Fall Fruit/Seed/Nut: Fall
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Aphids, borers, and scale may be present. Verticillium wilt, anthracnose, cankers, leaf spot, and tar spot can affect unhealthy trees. Leaf scorch may occur in drought conditions. It can have brittle wood. Roots can crack sidewalks and clog drains and septic systems. Is frequently used as a street tree, but does not tolerate soil compaction, pollution, or road salts well.
Quick ID Hints:
- Opposite, palmately lobed leaves
- Margin wavy
- Lobes 5, entire, pentagon outline
- Cultivars:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- saccharum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- These trees can be tapped to make maple syrup.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- Eastern North America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals. The large diameter tree often contains hollows used by wildlife.
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Wind Screen
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Storm damage. Fire. White-tailed deer browse twigs and leaves but this tree is moderately resistant to damage from deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep Shade (No direct sunlight)
- Full Sun (Direct sunlight 8+ hours a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight (2-4 hrs) for only part of the day
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Description:
- Schizocarp with two samaras, large, wings nearly parallel.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Insignificant blooms in April
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, palmately compound, entire, wavy, 5-lobed, acuminate at vein apices, green concolorous, and glabrate below to few hairs in vein axils. Lateral lobes project further from midrib than basal lobes; thus, a leaf outline is a pentagon. The leaves are a good yellow-orange fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Bark can have furrows where ontop the bark is dark brown and then below is lighter (nearly a reddish-brown to light brown).
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Description:
- Stems are slender. Stems and buds can be green, brown to reddish-brown. Buds are 6-12 mm, cone-shaped, acute, and have 4-8 pairs of lateral scales.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Similar but less problematic plants:
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Acer saccharinum
- Acer saccharum is often confused with:
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Acer barbatum
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Acer campestre
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Acer platanoides
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Acer rubrum
- Similar plants:
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Fraxinus pennsylvanica
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Cornus florida
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Acer rubrum
