Sugar Maple

Native Range:

• Eastern and central North America
• Most abundant in New England, Great Lakes region, and Appalachian Mountains

Habitat:

• Prefers well-drained, fertile soils
• Found in mixed hardwood forests
• Cooler climate

Size and Growth:

• Large tree that is usually 60–75 ft tall, but can reach over 100 ft
• Long-lived, often 200–300 years
• Moderate to slow growth rate

Leaves and Sap:

• Leaves are opposite, simple, 5-lobed, and 3–6 inches wide
• Bright yellow, orange, or red in fall
• Sap is clear and has a high sugar content which is used to produce maple syrup

Flowers and Fruit:

• Flowers are small, greenish-yellow and in clusters
• Fruit has paired winged samaras that ripen in fall

Ecology and Invasiveness:

• Keystone species in northern hardwood forests
• Provides habitat and food for wildlife: its buds, leaves, and seeds are eaten by deer, squirrels, and birds

Tips to Tell It Apart:

• Clear sap when leaf stalk is broken (red maple has milky sap in petiole)
• Leaves have U-shaped sinuses and smooth edges (red maple has V-shaped sinuses and serrated edges)