Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Acer barbatum
- Acer floridanum
- Saccharodendron barbatum
- Saccharodendron floridanum
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser sah-KAY-rum flor-ih-DAY-num
- Description
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Southern sugar maple is a deciduous tree in the Soapberry (Sapindaceae) family and is native to NC and much of the southeast and west to TX. It may grow from 20 to 60 feet tall with a 25-40 foot spread. The crown is round to oval with good density.
The tree has opposite, shallowly lobed leaves with a white underside. The bark of young trees is smooth, pale gray, and shaggy in older trees. The limbs are strong and don't easily break in high winds. Inconspicuous, small, yellow flowers mature in spring. The fall color is spectacular in yellow to orange colors.
This tree is easy to grow in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils. Tolerates drought and occasionally wet soil. It is not salt tolerant.
This plant is found in rich bottomlands and has small leaves and low height, making it a good candidate for planting in hurricane zones. Use as a specimen, shade tree, street tree or woodland garden.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves 3-5 lobed, entire
- Leaf outline a house-shape
- Leaves whitish, some pubescence below
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to aphids, borers and scale. Occasionally has problems with verticillium wilt, anthracnose, cankers, leaf spot, and tar spot. Leaf scorch may be a problem in drought conditions. It has been frequently used as a street tree, but is generally intolerant of road salt, soil compaction, and pollution. See potential insect and disease 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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- saccharum subsp. floridanum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans taught the early colonists how to tap these trees to make maple syrup which has now become a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S. and Canada. Can be used as a bonsai and ornamental shade trees.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- USA
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, LA, MO, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA. Southeast and bottomlands.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- 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. The Southern sugar maple flowers are visited by pollinators and seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals. Early spring source of nectar for bees. Nesting site for squires who also consume seeds as food source.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Shade
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire, wind and ice. White-tailed deer browse the twigs and leaves but is moderately resistant to damage.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Two-winged samara 3/4" long wings spreading downward at 60-70 degree angle. Matures mid to late summer; June to October in North Carolina.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Small inconspicuous flowers appear in April hang from a long hanging (1 - 2") stalk in clusters of a few flowers. Regular, pentamerous in racemes, corymbs or umbels. In North Carolina, the flowers are available from April to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The opposite simple leaves are 1.5-3.5 inches long and wide with entire margins. They have 3-5 rounded lobes and whitish undersides that are often fuzzy with hairs. The petioles can be reddish. The fall color is spectacular in orange and yellows.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Patchy
- Ridges
- Shaggy
- Smooth
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- Light gray with thick irregular ridges, becoming plated when aged.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Twigs reddish-brown with vertical lenticels.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Heat
- Wind
