Scientific Name:
Acer saccharum
Pronunciation:
AY-sur sa-kuh-ruhm
Common Name:
sugar maple
Family Name:
Sapindaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Leaves opposite, orbicular, most 15-18cm wide with 3-5 main lobes (as on the Canadian flag), toothed, tip acuminate, base cordate-hastate, underside fine white hairs; petioles 5-10cm long; flowers appear before leaves, drooping on thin pedicels 3-7cm long; schizocarps 2.5-3.5cm wide, horseshoe shaped to thick part of wings forming a 40-50 degree angle, samaras 2-4cm long, seeds plump, rounded. Winter ID: lateral buds brown, conical, about 3mm long, appressed, pubescent; terminal bud sharply pointed.
Habit:
Dense, Spreading
Form:
Oval - vertical, Round
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
15 - 22m
Mature Spread:
10 - 15m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Canada - eastern, U.S. - central, U.S. - northeast, U.S. - southeast
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich, Well-drained
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Fall interest, Shade tree, Street (boulevard tree), Tall background
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Lobed
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Heavily veined, Palmate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous, Pubescent
Colour in Fall:
Yellow, Orange, Red
Shapes:
Orbicular, Ovate
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Cordate, Hastate
Margins:
Dentate, Serrate
Additional Info:
Spectacular fall colour, May be hairs on underside next to major veins
Inflorescence Type:
Corymb
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
0
Colour (petals):
Not showy, Green-yellow
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Mar
Additional Info:
Can be monoecious or dioecious
Fruit Type:
Samara, Schizocarp
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Oct
Additional Info:
Showy, Schizocarps split into samara-like mericarps after dispersal
Bark Morphology:
Showy, Moderately fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey
Leaf Bud Type:
Conical (long-pointed)
Leaf Scar Shape:
U-shaped
Propagation:
Seed, Softwood cuttings, Grafting
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Galls, Heart rot, Leaf scorch, Mites, Root rot, Scale insects, Wilt
Course(s):
- HORT 2355
- Level 3 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
- (BCE) Boulevard (Circular) Eastend : cv. Commemoration: 1-7, 9, 15-17, 19-22; cv. Green Mountain: 10, 11, 12;