Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Sapindaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Forest Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Native species (Wild type)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-8; cold hardy but sensitive to excessive heat in the southern limit.
About This Tree
A stately, large deciduous tree with a dense, oval to rounded crown. Known for its slow to moderate growth rate and exceptional longevity. It forms a dominant part of the hardwood forest canopy.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, opposite arrangement; 3-5 inches wide with 5 deeply palmate lobes. Sinuses are rounded (U-shaped). Medium green in summer, turning vibrant yellow, orange, and red in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Gray-brown; smooth on young trees, becoming deeply furrowed into long, thick, irregular vertical plates or scales that often peel outward as the tree matures.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Northeastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to Ontario and south to Georgia and Texas.
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring; flowers in April-May before leaves fully emerge; fruits (samaras) mature in fall; dormancy begins after a brilliant fall color change.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soils. Low tolerance for salt and extreme drought.
Mature Size
60-100 feet tall with a 30-50 foot spread; can live over 300-400 years; trunk diameter 2-3 feet at maturity.
Special Characteristics
Primary source for maple syrup; highly valued for timber (hard maple); famous for spectacular fall foliage; sensitive to soil compaction and road salt.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides seeds (samaras) for squirrels, birds, and small mammals; browsed by white-tailed deer; provides critical nesting sites for various bird species; early season nectar source for bees.