Native Plant Database

Header Photo: Mervin Wallace

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum
Plant Type: Trees
Native Environment: Forest
Season of Interest: Mid (May - June), Late (July - frost)
Main Color: Green
Fall Color: Orange, Red, Yellow

USDA PLANTS Range Map

At the range map link above, zoom in for county-level data

Sun Exposure 
Full Sun, Medium Sun/Average Shade
Soil
Moisture
Dry, Moderate
Nature Attracting
Pollinators/Beneficial Insects
Wildlife Benefit
Butterfly / Moth Host, Butterfly / Moth Nectar, Cover, Food/Small Animals, Nesting
Animal
Resistance
Size

Height:

40 to
75
feet

Spread:

50 to
60
feet
Size
Height: 40 to
75
feet
Spread: 50 to
60
feet
Size
Height: 40 to
75
feet
Spread: 50 to
60
feet
Typical Landscape Use
Fantastic shade tree if given ample room to grow.Source of maple syrup, sap is tapped in Feb. or March and is boiled down to make the syrup. Wood is fanastic for furniture and flooring. Also used to mellow 'Jack Daniels' whiskey!
Establishment and Care Instructions
Transplants well when young. Adaptable. Needs lots of space to grow! Can tolerate shade, although best growth and fall color if grown in the sun. Moderate growth rate. Very difficult to grow plants under maples due to fine, dense shallow roots.
Special Features
Special Usage
Basic Description

Rounded, dense and large shade tree. Pale yellow haze of flowers in spring. Fall color ranges from bright yellow, burnt orange to red tones. Fruit is the typical maple ‘helicopters’ which mature in Sept./Oct. Long-lived.

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Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?

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