Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple)

The signature climax-forest maple of the Northeast, sugar maple brings unmatched fall color and long-term canopy value to upland forest restoration and specification plantings - but its sensitivity to compaction and drought means site selection matters more here than with faster, tougher maples.

Species Overview

Acer saccharum, commonly known as sugar maple, is a large, deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It typically grows 60 to 80 feet tall with a broad, rounded crown. Sugar maple is best known for its striking fall foliage, displaying vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red, making it a symbol of autumn in the region. Its leaves are palmately lobed with five distinct points, and its smooth gray bark matures into furrowed ridges over time. In spring, the tree produces small, greenish-yellow flowers, followed by paired winged seeds (samaras) that mature in the fall.

Application

• Upland hardwood forest restoration and reforestation
• Long-term shade tree specification on protected, well-drained sites
• Woodlot and maple syrup production plantings
• Naturalized landscape plantings prioritizing fall color and mature form

Growing Conditions / Specification Data

• Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil/Moisture Tolerance: Well-drained, slightly acidic soils; commonly found in hardwood forests
• Drought Tolerance: Low - sensitive to drought, soil compaction, and pollution
• Flood Tolerance: Moderate - Sources show some disagreement on flood tolerance for this species: one university extension tolerance table rates it flood-tolerant, while general silvics knowledge treats sugar maple as more of a mesic, well-drained-soil species sensitive to prolonged saturation. Mapped to Moderate pending closer verification.
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Shade Tolerance: Tolerant - rated as very tolerant of shade, exceeded among hardwoods only by a few smaller, shorter-lived species
• Growth Habit: Tree with broad, rounded crown
• Mature Height: 60-80 ft.
• Fall Color: Yellow, Orange, Red
• Bloom Color / Period: Greenish-yellow; April-May
• Wetland Indicator Status: FACU (Facultative Upland) - Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain region
• Native Range: A dominant species of New England and northeastern forests, ranging from southeastern Canada south through the Appalachians to Georgia, west to Minnesota and Missouri.
• Hydrology: Mesic
• Root Depth: Very Deep (36 in.+) (40 in.)
• Salinity Tolerance: None - sensitive to road salt
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
• Deer Resistance: Some (Occasionally Severely Damaged) - per Rutgers Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance
• Pollinator Value: Supports bees and other pollinating insects (species-confirmed - NC State Extension: "Butterflies and other pollinating insects enjoy the nectar from the flowers"); larval host for Imperial Moth caterpillars
• Juglone Tolerance: Tolerant