Name
Sugar Maple
Scientific Name
Acer saccharum
Wildlife Value
Good
Average height
85'
Origin
Native
Shade Tolerance
Very tolerant
Drought Tolerance
Poor
Growth Rate
Slow
Fruit
Seed
Special Characteristics
  Source of Maple Syrup (Hard Maple)
Seedling Size
8" to 12"
 
 
General Description
The sugar maple is a favorite street and garden tree because of its large canopy and crown along with its beautiful fall color. The shade and the shallow, fibrous roots may interfere with grass growing under the trees. Deep well-drained loam is the best rooting medium, although sugar maple can grow well on sandy soil which does not become excessively dry. Loose clay soils are also well known to support sugar maple. Poorly drained areas are unsuitable and the species is especially short-lived on flood-prone clay flats. Sugar maples can be found in the cooler regions because of it’s need for seed germination in low temperatures. Sugar maples can live up to multiple centuries old. Its salt tolerance is low and it is very sensitive to boron.
 
Uses
The sugar maple is the major source of sap for making maple syrup. The wood is one of the hardest and densest of the maples and is prized for furniture and flooring. Bowling alleys and bowling pins are both commonly manufactured from sugar maple. Trees with wavy wood grain, which can occur in curly, quilted and "birdseye maple" form, are especially valued. Maple is also the wood used for basketball courts, and it is a popular wood for baseball bats, along with white ash. It is also widely used in the manufacture of musical instruments, such as the members of the violin family (sides and back) guitars (neck) and drum shells.