Acer saccharum - Maple

The Acer saccharum, also known as the famous 'Sugar Maple', is a tree that is widely cultivated in Canada to produce delicious maple syrup. It is a large, fast-growing tree that reaches about 20 m (65 ft 7 in) in height and 10 m (32 ft 10 in) in width. Its pyramidal to ovoid rounded habit is dense and compact. Its dark green foliage turns into beautiful autumn colours, ranging from bright yellow to coppery red. When planted alone in a large garden, it becomes majestic. It thrives in any type of soil as long as it is not too wet, and its powerful root system has enough space to develop deep and wide.

Native to Northeastern North America and Southern Canada, the Acer saccharum, also known as the 'Sugar Maple' or 'Hard Maple', is a large tree belonging to the Aceraceae family. It grows naturally in deciduous or coniferous forests where it can reach up to 40 m (131 ft 2 in) in height. Since the arrival of the first settlers in the 21st century, the Acer saccharum has been cultivated to produce maple syrup (maple sugaring), which is obtained from 'maple water' collected by drilling holes in the trunk of the tree at the end of winter.

The Acer saccharum has a spreading rounded to ovoid habit. It reaches 20 to 25 m (65 ft 7 in to 82 ft) in height and 10 to 12 m (32 ft 10 in to 39 ft 5 in) in spread. The deciduous foliage is composed of large leaves deeply divided into 3 to 5 lobes, with a dark green colour and a paler underside. They measure 8 to 20 cm (3.1 to 7.9 in) in length and the same, or even greater, in width. In autumn, they blaze with spectacular colours, ranging from golden yellow to bright red and orange. The flowering occurs in March-April, before the leaves appear. The small yellowish-green flowers are fragrant and arranged in pendulous terminal clusters. The fruiting, in the form of winged fruits called samaras, is abundant. It only appears on specimens at least 20 years old and is highly appreciated by birds and small mammals. The bark of the branches is a brown-green in colour, becoming grey and vertically fissured as it ages.

The Acer saccharum is a vigorous tree with fast growth, perfectly resistant to severe frosts. It thrives in deep and well-drained moist soil. It prefers slightly acidic soils and dislikes excessive limestone and stagnant water. A well-established specimen can tolerate temporarily dry soil. Its root system spreads considerably in depth and width, including at the surface. When planted alone in a park or a large garden, it becomes majestic. It can also be planted in rows along large alleys, providing shade in summer and illuminating with its colours in autumn.

Good to know: The Acer saccharum is often confused with the Acer platanoides (Norway Maple). They can be differentiated by crushing the leaves: the leaves of A. saccharum produce clear and transparent sap, unlike the white sap of A. platanoides.