Acer saccharum
ACERACEAE
Form
- A native Ohio large shade tree, up to 60 fee tall with a medium growth rate
Culture
- full to partial sun; well drained, moist slightly acidic soils, well drained
- not tolerant of root compaction, flooding or thin soils
- prunning mid winter to midspring
Use
- Good for shade or accent trees
- Not good as a street tree, due to intolerance to street conditions and shallow roots
Foliage
- opposite, palmate veination with rounded shape between lobes on leaves
- fall color bright yellow, orange to red
Fruit
- the winged helicopters kids love to see, i.e. winged samaras to be technical
Interesting Facts
- sap used to make maple syrup; wood very hard used for furniture and floors; wood grains can form beautiful unusual pattern such as birds eyes and tiger stripes.
Twigs and Bark
-browish red to brown with dark brown to gray buds in winter
Hiram Uses
-a 19th century favorite lining streets and blanketing the oldest sections of Fairview cemetery
-light brown to light gray branches
-brown to black fissured trunks with age
Banner Photo by Mathew J. Wilson