Sugar Maple
Plant Type: Dormant, bare-root
Zones: 3-8
Soil Type: Loamy & Sandy Soils
Site Selection: Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Mature Height & Width: 50-70' Height and 35-45' Spread
Growth Rate: Moderate - 12-24" per year on average
Moisture Requirements: Average soils






Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
The Sugar Maple exhibits dark green leaves that turn burnt orange, yellow and red in fall. This brilliant display will make you stop and take notice every autumn. The bark forms an attractive gray color that stands out in winter. This large shade tree is most likely where your maple syrup comes from, it's the most common one used for tapping. The firewood that the Sugar Maple tree produces is coveted due to its ease of splitting, heat value and resulting ash which can be used to enrich gardens.
The Sugar Maple is a large and beautiful tree that is sure to delight. The dark green leaves on this maple tree turn a brilliant red to orange color in autum, one of the best fall color displays of any tree around. This tree should be planted away from roads where its roots can be compacted or the tree could be exposed to road salt. The shallow roots of the Sugar Maple should be left to grow in an area that will not be subject to soil compaction. Driving over the roots, even with a havy garden tractor can cause damage to the tree.
The Sugar Maple will grow in most soils but will flourish with deep, rich soils that are routinely moist but well drained.
Fun Facts: The NBA uses maple to make the floors that are used in professional basketball. The Sugar Maple is the state tree of New York, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Common uses for Sugar Maple include:
- Brilliant fall color
- Lumber used for making cabinets, flooring and furniture
- Maple syrup production
- Large shade tree
The Sugar Maple is often browsed by deer, moose and hares. Red, grey, and flying squirrels sometimes feed on the seed, buds, foliage, and twigs of Sugar Maple.
Product Questions
Read more at Gardening Know How: Maple Tree Pruning – How And When To Prune A Maple Tree https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/maple/maple-tree-pruning.htm