Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum · Deciduous broadleaf hardwood
Plant Family
Sapindaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type species (no specific cultivar)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9
About This Tree
A large, fast-growing deciduous tree with an upright, spreading, and often somewhat weeping or open canopy, known for its deeply lobed leaves with silvery undersides and furrowed bark.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, opposite, deeply five-lobed leaves, 3 to 6 inches long, medium green above and silvery-white below, with sharply serrated margins
Bark Characteristics
Smooth and gray on young trunks, turning reddish-brown to dark gray with age, becoming deeply furrowed and exfoliating in long, scaly strips
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern and central North America, widely adapted throughout temperate zones
Growing Season
Spring leafing, early spring flowering, late spring fruit maturation, entering dormancy in late autumn
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well-drained soils but demonstrates high adaptability to various moisture levels including temporary flooding
Mature Size
Height of 50 to 80 feet, spread of 35 to 50 feet, fast growth rate, typical lifespan of 130 years
Special Characteristics
Extremely fast growth, high tolerance for urban pollution and wet soils, weak wood prone to storm damage, striking silvery foliage motion in the wind
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides nesting sites and cover for birds and mammals; seeds, buds, and sap are utilized by squirrels, chipmunks, and various bird species