Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Sugar maples are among the best known trees in the
eastern United States because of their handsome appearance and
distinctive leaf shape. The sugar maple is economically important
as the source of maple syrup. The sap is harvested (tapped) in early
spring, and boiled down to form pure maple syrup. Chosen as the
state tree for four US states, this maple is perhaps best recognized
as the leaf on the flag of Canada, designated in the mid-1960s.
Although widely associated with Canada, sugar maples do not
naturally grow far north or west in Canada. They grow from
southeast Canada through New England and the Midwestern United
States, south to Tennessee and Virginia. They are found typically
in deep, rich, well-drained soils. Often planted as ornamental and
shade trees, they are prized for their fall colors of brilliant
yellow, orange, and sometimes red. The hard wood is used to make
furniture, veneer, cabinets, and many other items.
Look for: medium-sized tree with opposite branches;
distinctive leaf, as on the Canadian flag, with approximately five
major lobes; small dangling pale yellow flowers in early spring
before the leaves emerge; winged seeds that spin as they fall.
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Acer
Species: saccharum
Cultivar:
Form: Upright
Growth Type: Large
Growth Rate: 12"
Sun Exposure: Full Sun