Contact About Media Ask William Education Home

Education > Moss Picks > October Top 10 > Sugar Maple

Sugar Maple: Acer saccharum

Previous

Next

click on photos for larger images

sugar maple leaves

Family: Aceraceae

Above: foliage, Below: betweeen pines at Northwestern Use: woodlands, shade tree, parks, maple syrup groves, specimen
sugar maple at northwestern

Plant: deciduous trees to 100'+

Origin: eastern North America

Zone
: 4 - 9

Flowers
: clustered of greenish corymbs in early spring. Most people never notice them, but are familiar with the winged helicopters (samaras) that flutter through the air in summer

Foliage: deeply lobed but not as dissected as silver maple. Perhaps the most colorful tree of autumn.

Culture
: sun to shade. Well-drained fertile soil. Dense roots and leaf cover prevent most plants from growing under sugar maples. The hard wood is used to make bowling alleys and basketball courts. Intolerant of salt and water-logged soil.



wemoss.org 2008, Last Updated November 6, 2008