Maple leaf shape is the prominent way to help identify the type of maple tree The maple leaves are said to symbolize strength and endurance. A single stylized maple leaf with 11 points and deep indentations features prominently in the Canadian flag. The striking maple leaf-especially from the sugar maple tree-is undoubtedly the tree’s most recognizable feature. The unique and decorative wood grain of maple makes it a popular choice for creating exquisite furniture pieces. Maple wood, a hardwood variety, is utilized in crafting baseball bats, bowling pins, pool cue shafts, and hardwood flooring. In addition to their culinary value, maple trees are prized for their quality timber. While syrup can be made from any maple tree, it is the sugar maple tree (Acer saccharum) that yields the highest-quality syrup. Maple trees are renowned for producing the famous sweet maple syrup, extracted from the sap. Other popular varieties of maple trees for gardens are the Amur Maple ( Acer ginnala), Big Leaf Maple ( Acer macrophyllum), and the Hedge Maple tree ( Acer campestre). The two most common maples are the sugar maple ( Acer saccharum) and the red maple ( Acer rubrum). There are about 128 species of maple trees in the Acer plant genus. Leaf hoppers can cause substantial damage.The ornamental maple tree provides stunning autumn color and there are many types to suit every garden Canker, fungal leaf spot and root rots may also occur. Verticillium wilt attacks the vascular system and can be fatal. Watch for aphids, leafhoppers, borers, scale and caterpillars. The sap of the tree can also be used to make maple syrup, an important non-timber forest product, although most commercially available maple syrup comes from the sap of the hard maple species.ĭamaging agents: No serious insect or disease problems. Higher-quality grades of the timber may be used as a substitute for “hard maple,” which comes from Acer nigrum and Acer saccharum, especially in furniture. Timber Value: In the lumber industry, red maple is known as soft maple. = Wildlife value: The fruits (samaras) provide foodįor squirrels and many other rodents. It prefers wet soil conditions but has slight drought tolerance. Growing Conditions: The red maple grows in acidic, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, silty loam, well-drained and clay soils. But homeowners and urban foresters are growing this tree all across the United States Range: The natural range of red maple begins roughly at the eastern edge of the Great Plains north to Lake Superior, extending eastward to the Atlantic. In forest, trunk usually clear for some distance, in the open the trunk is shorter and the crown rounded. Twig: Reddish and lustrous with small lenticels, buds usually blunt, green or reddish (fall and winter) with several loose scales usually present, leaf scars V-shaped, 3 bundle scars, lateral buds slightly stalked, may be collateral buds present.īark: On young trees, smooth and light gray, with age becomes darker and breaks up into long, fine scaly plates.įorm: Medium sized tree up to 90 feet. Light brown and often reddish, ripen in late spring and early summer. Leaf: Opposite, simple, 3 to 5 palmate lobes with serrated margin, sinuses relatively shallow (but highly variable), 2 to 4 inches long green above, whitened and sometimes glaucous or hairy beneath.įlower: Attractive but small, occur in hanging clusters, usually bright red but occasionally yellow, appear in early spring, usually before leaves.įruit: Clusters of 1/2 to 3/4 inch long samaras with slighlyĭivergent wings, on long slender stems. Infrequent in forest mostly found as understory. It has the greatest north-south distribution of all tree species along the East Coast, ranging from eastern Canada south to Florida and west to east Texas. Red Maple is a handsome shade tree, named for its often red autumn leaf display. Fall foliage is quite variable, ranging from the brilliant red for which the species is known, to yellow or greenish-yellow. Roots in a dense, fibrous network, often preventing other plants from growing near its trunk. Young, vigorous trees have smooth, silvery gray bark which provides winter interest. Male trees have notable pinkish red flowers in early spring,Īnd females display decorative red samaras soon after. Leaves vary from 3- to 5-lobed, with lobes separated by V-shaped angles. in cultivation, occasionally reaching 100-120 ft. This popular ornamental tree grows 40-60 ft. Large tree with narrow or rounded, compact crown and red flowers, fruit, leafstalks, and autumn foliage.
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