When the tree is dormant, the sweet-water sap will flow from any wound in the sapwood, such as a taphole, each time a period of freezing is followed by a period of thawing. The leaves are 3-5 inches long, … I love all of the trees in my yard, but none are more stunningly beautiful than the Sugar Maple tree in fall. Native to eastern North America, it is widely cultivated elsewhere. As you can see, the tree still has a touch of the summer green leave, but the leaves were quickly changing to yellow and orange. Leaves are opposite simple. The wood of Sugar Maple is also important economically because it is used in the construction of furniture, paneling, flooring, veneer, gunstocks, tool handles, cutting blocks, woodenware, sporting goods, bowling pins, and musical instruments. To learn more about these topics, review the lesson connected to this quiz called Maple Tree Facts: Lesson for Kids. The sugar maple tree is a hardwood deciduous tree, which means it sheds its leaves annually. I took this photo on Oct. 22. Apollo® Sugar Maple is a dense deciduous tree with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Sugar maples leaves get their fall coloring from anthocyanins they manufacture late in … Several other maple species are also known as sugar maples, including the Rocky mountain sugar maple (Acer grandidentatum), chalk maple (A. leucoderme), and black maple (A. nigrum). Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. Sugar maple, (Acer saccharum), also called hard maple or rock maple, large tree in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), native to eastern North America and widely grown as an ornamental and shade tree. Sugar maple is the second most common tree in the Northeast. There are so many varieties of maple trees that it is hard to keep up with them all! Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Sap from the trunks of sugar maples is used to make maple syrup. Some trees develop special wood grain patterns such as bird’s-eye maple (with dots suggesting eyes of birds) and curly and fiddleback maple, with wavy and rippled grain, respectively. A common myth is the leaf on the Canadian flag is a sugar maple leaf. However, in favorable growing conditions they can reach a height greater than 140 feet. A picture of a sugar maple tree in the middle of a field. The sugar maple tree is a hardwood deciduous tree, which means it sheds its leaves annually. The fruits are paired samaras. Learn more about making your maple syrup. The sugar maple tree is a medium to large tree species that is a member of the Acer genus. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. A picture of a sugar maple tree during the autumn months. Its three- to five-lobed leaves appear after the greenish yellow flowers of spring. The sugar maple tree is one of about 128 species in the Acer genus. Expect your trees to grow from one foot to two feet (30-61 cm.) The tree produces a dense, round, compact crown when grown in the open and is used quite extensively as a shade or ornamental tree. The sugar maple tree is native to the northeastern part of the United States and parts of Canada. The average height of a mature sugar maple tree is between 80 and 115 feet. Sap can begin to be harvested from a sugar maple tree when it reaches between 30 and 40 years old. Interesting Maple tree Facts: Size of maple tree depends on the species. Maple trees are popular because they are cold resistant and can grow extremely fast. The trees of wider berth produce better yields of sap for the production of maple syrup. In a balanced, healthy productive sugarbush an ideal number of maples would be approximately 70 per acre. The leaf of the sugar maple is the national emblem of Canada. All Rights Reserved. Maples vary radically in size. Along with the color of its leaves, the buds, seeds, and new branches of the red maple also have a … The sugar maple tree is a medium to large tree species that is a member of the Acer genus. Their under-surface is comparatively less dark. Smooth grayish bark on the trunk and branches gradually furrows with age. Omissions? Comments: Sugar Maple is a tree of economic importance because it is the source of maple syrup. Simply enter your email address to get our weekly facts! Once you have finished planting sugar maple trees, they will grow at a slow to medium rate. The soil should be acidic to slightly alkaline. Southern Sugar Maple. Fall Color. Maple trees that grow tall and straight generally don't give as much sap in the spring as trees with a wider canopy, and are thus better for lumber. The flowers are greenish-yellow in short, upright sprays in spring Plant range Alaska, Canada to SE United States It has a dense crown of leaves, which turn various shades of gold to scarlet in fall. The sugar maple tree is most well-known for its beautiful leaf colors during the autumn months. Southern sugar maple (Acer barbatum) is often used as a substitute for sugar maple (Acer saccharum) in the South. The most popular types of maples include red maple, Japanese maple, silver maple and Norway maple. Sugar maple tree facts are pretty interesting to know. Landscape Attributes. Copyright © 2020 Facts Just for Kids. The lifespan of a maple tree is between 100 and 400 years, depending on the species. Japanese maples are the smallest type of maple tree to live in North America. As kings, Sugar Maples have many servants that support them in their rise to prominence. With about 128 species, each tree has a serene beauty of its own. The tree is also known as the scarlet maple, the swamp maple, and the water maple. Several varieties of sugar maples are available; their leaf crowns may be columnar, oval, or pyramidal in shape, with dark green to yellowish leaves. Sugar Maple differs from the other trees in the forest because their young can grow in the heavy shade of the forest. Updates? The lobed leaves turn outstanding shades of yellow, orange and red in the fall. Facts about Maple Trees 9: the uses Maple trees are not only used to produce maple syrups. The scientific species name for the sugar maple tree is Acer saccharum. The sweet-water sap from which maple syrup is made is different from the circulatory sap of the growing tree. About 115 to 190 litres (30 to 50 gallons) of sap yield 4 litres (around 1 gallon) of syrup. It takes about 40 gallons of sugar maple tree sap to produce one gallon of pure maple syrup. Sugar maple is a deciduous tree that can grow to a height of 50 to 130 feet. The tree will also grow in partial sun, with at least four hours of direct, unfiltered sun every day. The lesson will explore the following about maple trees: The color of their leaves Corrections? Sugar maples grow well in USDA zones 3 to 8, which encompasses much of the United... 3. But in North America some of the most common include the silver maple, black maple, and one very important one - the sugar maple! Although maple trees are found in other continents, no other continent’s maples can compare in … Sugar Maple Tree Facts. Leaves and Flowers:. NOW 50% OFF! Details A. saccharum is a large, deciduous tree to 20m with a dense, oval to rounded crown and large, dull-green, three- to five-lobed leaves that turn brilliant orange, red and yellow in autumn. It is commercially important as a source of maple syrup, maple sugar, and hardwood lumber useful in furniture manufacture and flooring. It is native to the US, and found throughout the eastern states. The fruits are paired samaras. The sugar maple tree is also known for being the main source of maple syrup products. Trees are tapped for syrup in late winter/early spring throughout New England. Sugar maple tree is a native of North America and is the most commonly found species amongst the seven other types of maple trees. The trunk and autumn leaves of a large sugar maple (, A man and his son using a hand drill to tap a sugar maple tree (. Sugar Maples Are Highly Adaptable Its three- to five-lobed leaves appear after the greenish yellow flowers of spring. The sugar maple tree is the state tree of Vermont; this is the wonderful tree that produces maple syrup. Sugar Maple. Smooth grayish bark on the trunk and branches gradually furrows with age. They are known for the beautiful, unequally-shaped leaves that make any landscape come alive. The sugar maple (hard maple, rock maple) is one of our largest and finest forest trees, growing to a feet with a diameter of 2 or more feet. Since the sugar maple is so abundant and has a high heat BTU, it also is widely used for firewood to heat homes. Sugar Maples Don't Produce as Much Syrup as You Think The scientific species name for the sugar maple tree is Acer saccharum. Neither the flowers nor the fruit are ornamentally significant. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/plant/sugar-maple, Herbarium - Cofrin Center for Biodiversity - University of Wisconsin Green Bay - Sugar Maple, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Sugar Maple, How Stuff Works - Home and Garden - Sugar Maple, United State Department of Agriculture - Acer saccharum Marsh - Sugar Maple. Maple syrup was first recorded as being produced in 1540 by Native Americans using the sugar maple’s sap. The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) captures the imagination with its sweet sap harvested with a little spigot and its inspiring autumn display.It is one of America’s most beloved trees, named state tree of no less than four states. Its average life span is 300 years, and it can live up to 500 years. The hard wood is widely used as flooring as it can produce varied wood grains and colors. Sometimes called hard maple or rock maple, sugar maple is one of the largest and more important of the hardwoods. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Maple tree has brown bark that is smooth in young plants and rough in older plants. Fall Fiesta® Sugar Maple is a dense deciduous tree … The 1994 residual stand also had American beech (7%), white ash (12%), black cherry (8%), and small amounts of yellow birch, basswood, red maple, eastern hemlock, eastern The average sugar maple tree produces around 3 gallons of sap daily and between 9 and 14 gallons per season. The average length and width of a leaf on a mature sugar maple tree is between 7 and 9 inches. The sap, collected from t… The order of the color change for sugar maple leaves is green, yellow, orange, red and finally dark purple. Fears of a mass Sugar Maple Extinction surfaced at an international maple syrup producers' conference in Rutland, Vt. Botanists from Vermont and Canada presented environmental evidence to support their dire forecasts and sugar makers confirmed their findings with reports of extensive Maple Tree deaths and serious production losses. Britannica Kids Holiday Bundle! Some types of maple can be grown as bonsai, while other can reach the height of 145 feet. Whew! Fall Fiesta® Sugar Maple has dark green foliage throughout the season. 5 Interesting Facts About Sugar Maples 1. Sugar maple is the primary source for maple sugar and syrup. When you buy maple syrup at the store, the volume of syrup you... 2. Maple is a type of shedding tree that is planted as an ornamental tree for outdoor landscaping. The municipalities, businesses and homeowners also use it as a decorative tree. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. With more than 128 species of maple in the world, it shouldn’t come as … It grows to 18 metres (60 feet)—higher under favourable conditions—with a short, stout trunk and The lifespan of a sugar maple tree is estimated to be between 200 and 300 years. However, the leaf isn’t a replica of any specific maple leaf species but does closely resemble the leaf of a sugar maple tree. Sugar maple trees seldom flower until they are at … Do not tap the tree for sap once the buds appear. The sap from the sugar maple is used to make syrup! Join thousands of other people getting facts in their inbox every week. A picture of a sugar maple tree and some sap buckets. You can expect an average of 10 gallons per tap, and a tree can have up to three taps depending on the trunk diameter. The red color of its leaves, in autumn, makes it an attractive tree that will certainly stand out on any property. The sugar maple tree is one of about 128 species in the Acer genus. Sugar maple dominates this 12 ha stand, accounting for 65% of the basal area after the first selection treatment in 1973 and 59% after the second treatment in 1993. A sugar maple tree growing in deep, well-drained soil is happiest. The sugar maple tree grows to a height of 60–75' and a spread of 40–50' at maturity. As the season changes from summer to fall, sugar maple leaves change into a wide variety of colors. It usually takes up to 50 gallons of sugar maple sap (depending on sugar content) to make one gallon of syrup. Silver maple, (Acer saccharinum), large, spreading tree, of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), popular as a rapid-growing shade tree. As with most trees, forest-grown sugar maples form a much taller trunk and narrower canopy than open-growth ones. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MAPLE TREES Sugar, Black, and Red maples are the trees that are important for maple syrup production. A 10-year-old tree is typically about 5 m (16 ft) tall. The sugar maple tree may grow to a height of 40 metres (130 feet). each year. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Vermont controls 35 percent of U.S. maple syrup production. And the history of maples is as intriguing as the tree … The image on the right is a photo of the Sugar Maple tree in my own front yard. It has a dense crown of leaves, which turn various shades of gold to scarlet in fall. Many of the root systems are typically dense and fibrous, inhibiting the growth of other vegetation underneath them. It takes 10 gallons of raw sap to make 1 quart of maple syrup. Acer saccharum is a deciduous tree normally reaching heights of 25–35 m (80–115 ft), and exceptionally up to 45 m (148 ft). The sugar maple tree is the state tree of Vermont, and this one might be your favorite. Although heights of 120 feet are possible, few sugar maples exceed 70 feet. The Comfort Maple is an enormous and strangely shaped sugar maple tree which is believed to be at least 500 years old, the oldest maple tree in Canada. Maple trees can live to 200 years and beyond and have been tapped for 150 years or more. The sugar maple tree may grow to a height of 40 metres (130 feet). 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