#Sugar maple trees how to#

The seeds that form from pollinated flowers are favorite treats for many birds, which also nest in the trees.Īlthough it's not a demanding tree, our horticulturists have some growing tips that boost Sugar Maple's ability to perform its best.

During the years of heavy bloom, yellowish-green flowers seem to give the tree a golden glow. Sugar Maple is prized for its fall foliage, but it also blooms in springtime! It has a habit of blooming profusely one year, followed by several years of flowering lightly.

Although Sugar Maple performs best in sunny locations, it is remarkably shade-tolerant. Sugar Maple is a strong-wooded tree with sturdy branches that hold up in strong winds and under ice loads. Cooler, northern climates may see deeper shades of red and orange, and warmer, southern climates may enjoy vibrant yellow shades. A palette of sunset shades gives Sugar Maple its distinctive fall color. Sugar Maple is truly a four-seasonal gem! And during the summer, this tree fulfills its year-round value as a superior shade tree. Tapped in early spring for harvesting sap, Sugar Maple fulfills its name as the best maple species for making maple syrup. After the leaves drop, Sugar Maple's gray bark provides a contrast to other brown-barked trees in winter.

This large tree grows 50 to 80 feet (15-24.5 m.) tall with a dense canopy that spreads 35 to 50 feet (10.5-15 m.Like a brilliant sunset, Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) sets the landscape on fire in autumn with its characteristic foliage colors of red, orange, and yellow.

Their shallow roots buckle sidewalks and foundations, making it nearly impossible to grow grass under the canopy.

The dark green leaves are silvery underneath and appear to glimmer in the wind.

These trees grow 50 to 70 feet (15-21.5 m.) tall with canopies that are 35 to 50 feet (10.5-15 m.) wide.

Bright red, yellow, and orange fall color.

Heights of 40 to 60 feet (12-18.5 m.) with a width of 25 to 35 feet (7.5-10.5 m.) in cultivation, but may reach over 100 feet (30.5 m.) in the wild.

The trees are often wider than they are tall.

Highly ornamental trees, Japanese maples may only grow to 6 to 8 feet (2-2.5 m.) in cultivation, but can reach heights of 40 to 50 feet (12-15 m.) in the wild.Here are a few distinguishing characteristics of some of the more common types of Acer maple trees:

#Sugar maple trees how to#

They are essentially winged seeds that twirl to the ground when ripe, much to the delight of children who get caught in a shower of “whirlybirds.” How to Identify Maple Trees They are subject to wood rot and landowners have to pay the high cost of tree removal or risk collapse.Īnother thing that all maples have in common is their fruit, called samaras. Quick growth results in brittle branches that break and fall easily, often causing property damage. Landscapers use these trees to get quick results, but they may become a problem in the landscape as they age. Their rapid growth results in a soft wood. Soft maples include a wide variety of trees, such as red and silver maples. They are dull green on top and a lighter color underneath. Hard maples usually have leaves with moderate indentations. The lobes on some maples are mere indentations in the leaves, while others have lobes so deeply divided that a single leaf can look like a cluster of individual, thin leaves. These trees are important to the lumber industry and include black maples and sugar maples, known for their superior quality syrup.Īll maples have leaves divided into three, five, or seven lobes. Hard maples grow very slowly and live a long time. One distinction between the two maple tree types is the rate of growth.

To make maple tree identification a little easier, let’s begin by dividing them into two main groups: hard and soft maples. With all of the variations, it’s hard to pinpoint a few obvious features that make a tree a maple. Maple trees are members of the genus Acer, which includes a lot of variety in size, shape, color, and growth habit. Find out about some of the most popular maple tree varieties in this article. From the little 8 foot (2.5 m.) Japanese maple to the towering sugar maple that can reach heights of 100 feet (30.5 m.) or more, the Acer family offers a tree just the right size for every situation.