Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum

Height: 60-75´
Habit: rounded

Landscape Value:

The sugar maple is an exceptional and large shade tree with brilliant fall color. It is slower-growing than the red maple but that should not deter homeowners from planting a sugar maple. They will only have to wait a while longer to reap its benefits. Tolerant of shady sites, sugar maples are a major component of the climax forest of eastern North America. The roots will need plenty of space to grow, so keep that in mind if the intention is to plant near a sidewalk or driveway. Give this tree room to spread out, and it will give immensely beautiful fall color and consistent summer shade in return.

Seasonal Characteristics:

• Spring: Small and subtle greenish-yellow flowers arrive in early spring.
  
  
• Summer: Medium to dark green foliage on a dense and rounded canopy provides shade and beauty all summer.
  
  
• Fall: This is probably the best choice one can make for consistent and dazzling fall color. In the Midwest, sugar maples are more likely to be a rich yellow, but they can vary between a red and orange as well.

Points of Interest:

Native Americans taught pioneers the art of collecting sap from this tree. Indians and settlers alike had "sugar camps" in groves of sugar maples. One tree can produce between 5 and 60 gallons of sap, and it takes about 32 gallons to make one gallon of syrup. Wood from this tree is of high quality and valued for flooring, furniture and many other uses. The leaf on the Canadian flag is that of the sugar maple. The bark of the sugar maple is immediately distinguishable from that of the red maple. The sugar maple's bark is dark, grayish-brown or almost black, whereas the red maple's is a much lighter, silvery-gray.

Native Range:

Illinois, eastern Canada to Georgia, west to Missouri and Minnesota. The sugar maple is tolerant of shade, does well in heavy forest conditions, and is an integral member of northern climax forests.

Link to Sugar Maple