At a glance
Names
Latin (scientific) name: Acer saccharum
Common English name: Sugar Maple
Other names: Hard Maple, Rock Maple
French name: Érable à sucre
Type
Deciduous
Plant Hardiness Zone
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
Status
Native
Size at Maturity
35 m
Life Expectancy
Long-lived
Where it grows
Plant Hardiness Zone
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
Habitat
Requires cool and moist environments.
Preferred Soil Type
Prefers soil containing lime.
Distribution Across Canada
Eastern Canada
What it looks like
At Maturity
Large or medium size tree, rounded outline, straight trunk.
Bark
Smooth when young, scaly grey with age.
Leaf
Canada’s national tree. Classic 5 pointed leaf, 15 cm long. Famous for brilliant reds, yellows and oranges that the leaves turn in the autumn. Main source of sap used in maple syrup production due to it’s higher sugar content than the other maple species and therefore requires less effort to boil down.
Bud
Fruit
Plump, double keys, wings hang down from seed.
Flower
Delicate clusters of greenish flowers hanging downwards.
What affects it
Pests
Common diseases
Leaf scorch can be caused by drought.
Values and Uses
Edible fruit/nut tree?
yes, sap
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