Acer saccharum

Sugar Maple

Sugar maple has a dense, rounded crown and is one of the trees responsible for giving New England its reputation for spectacular fall color, as the medium green leaves turn brilliant yellow or red-orange in autumn. The familiar two-winged "helicopter" fruit is a favorite food of chipmunks, and they store it away in winter larders. This is a long-lived tree that grows relatively slowly.

Benefits

	Birds and other mammals eat the seeds
	Provides excellent cover and nest sites for birds
	One of the best shade trees
	Outstanding fall color

Homeowner Growing and Maintenance Tips

Plant in full sun to part shade. Tolerates shade well.

Prefers well-drained, moderately moist, fertile soil.

Excessively dry soil This is a big tree so give it plenty of room to reach full size.

Height 60-70 Feet

Spread 50-60 Feet

Native Range Rich woods of Eastern North America, especially on limestone; Nova Scotia to Minnesota and eastern South Dakota to Missouri and Virginia, and in the mountains to Georgia. Distribution Maps by State and County

Native Trivia Native Americans taught the early colonists how to tap these trees to make maple syrup that has become a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S. and Canada. Distribution Map

USDA Hardiness Zone 4-8

"This big stately tree provides ideal nesting sites for me and my bird friends."

Characteristics & Attributes

Plan Sub Group • Deciduous Trees	Exposure • Shade • Filtered Shade • Sun	Soil • Well-drained	Soil Moisture Preference • Moist but well-drained • Moist • Average
Attracts Wildlife • Mammals • Songbirds	Bloom Time • Early Spring	Habitat Collection • Songbird	Native Habitat • Forest
Foliage Color • Green	Uses • Specimen