Acer saccharum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser sa-KAR-um
- Description
-
Northern Sugar Maple is a deciduous tree that is native to Eastern and central North America and is found in the mountains and sporadically in the Piedmont of NC. It may reach 50 to 120 feet tall with a dense spreading crown and grows at a slow to medium rate. The leaves have 5 lobes and coarsely toothed edges and turn brilliant shades of red, orange or yellow in the fall. In spring drooping racemes of yellow flowers are followed by winged samaras that are clustered on long reddish stalks in summer. It is the only tree commercially used today for syrup production.
Northern Sugar Maple grows best in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic, fertile soil in full sun but will tolerate average well-drained soils in sun to part shade. It is intolerant of compacted soil, high heat, air pollution, and road salt commonly found in urban environments. It is best used as a shade tree in lawns or park type settings.
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.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Barrett Cole'
More columnar, 30 feet tall - ‘Bonfire’
50 feet tall, faster growing, better heat tolerance. - ‘Commemoration’
50 feet tall, faster grower, good fall color. - ‘JFS-KW8'
50 feet tall, reliable fall color - ‘Morton’
30-40 feet, better heat and drought tolerance
- ‘Barrett Cole'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Barrett Cole'
More columnar, 30 feet tall - ‘Bonfire’
50 feet tall, faster growing, better heat tolerance. - ‘Commemoration’
50 feet tall, faster grower, good fall color. - ‘JFS-KW8'
50 feet tall, reliable fall color - ‘Morton’
30-40 feet, better heat and drought tolerance
- ‘Barrett Cole'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- saccharum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- These trees can be tapped to make maple syrup. The wood is used for furniture and other items.
- 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 cavities are utilized by cavity-nesting birds. Deer and moose browse the stems and leaves. Porcupines consume the bark and can girdle the upper stem.
- Play Value:
- Pieces Used in Games
- Shade
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- Sap used for maple syrup
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 120 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
- Habit/Form:
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a paired, papery-winged samara that averages 1 inch in length. Color is green maturing to brown
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Separate male and female flowers are greenish-yellow drooping panicles in April and May.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3 to 6 inches long and wide with 5 lobes. The basal lobes are relatively small, while the upper lobes are larger and deeply notched. The tip acuminate, base cordate and margins entire. Color is dark green in summer, changing to yellow, orange and red in fall.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- The bark variable but generally light gray to gray-brown, rough, deeply furrowed, and darker with age
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Stems are slender with lenticels. Stems and buds can be green, brown to reddish-brown. Buds are 1/4"-1/2", cone-shaped, acute, and have 4-8 pairs of lateral scales.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
