The basics

Sugar maple is a slow-growing, long-lived deciduous tree native to eastern and central North America, from southern Canada through the northeast and Midwest U.S., south to Georgia. Sugar maple, also known as ‘rock maple’ or ‘hard maple,’ thrives in rich, well-drained soils and is a dominant species in northern hardwood forests. The leaves are typically 5 lobed (sometimes 3) with smooth margins, 3 to 6 inches long and wide, and turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall. In early spring, the tree produces small greenish flowers before leaves appear, followed by paired winged seeds (samaras). The green samaras are curved and resemble a horseshoe and approximately 1 inch in length, in contrast to the smaller, straighter, red samaras of red maple (A. rubrum). On younger trees the bark is smooth but becomes shaggy as the tree ages. The vibrant fall foliage of sugar maple makes it a cherished symbol of autumn.