Sugar Maple
ExploreTrees
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
The Sugar Maple is famous for its sweet sap, which is used to make delicious maple syrup! Its leaves turn bright yellow and orange in the fall.
Habitat: Forests and parks
Appearance
The Sugar Maple has distinctive 5-lobed leaves that turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red in autumn. Its bark is typically gray-brown, starting smooth and becoming deeply furrowed with age, making it visually distinct in forests.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderSapindalesFamilySapindaceaeGenusAcer
Category
TreesRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
20
Interesting facts
Early Native Americans invented maple syrup by tapping these amazing trees.
It's the official state tree for New York, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Its winged seeds spin like tiny helicopters when they fall from the tree.
Sugar Maple wood is so hard, it's used for bowling pins and basketball court floors!
Special abilities
Ability
Sweet Sap Flow
Sugar Maple can draw sugary sap from its roots to its branches, even in freezing temperatures, helping it prepare for spring growth.
Ability
Winter Warrior
Sugar Maple has thick bark and strong wood that help it survive harsh northern winters and protect against damage.
Ability
Canopy Creator
Sugar Maple can grow a dense, wide canopy, shading out competitors and creating a cool habitat for forest creatures.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 20-35 m
- Canopy Spread
- 10-15 m
- Edible
- Yes
- Trunk Diameter
- 60-100 cm
- Lifespan
- 200-400 years
- Fruit Type
- Samara
- Growth Rate
- Medium
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous
Ecological connections
eats
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
browses young maple saplings
eats
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
feeds on the tree's winged seeds
pollinates
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Bombus impatiens
visits early spring flowers for nectar
shelters
Downy Woodpecker
Dendrocopos pubescens
nests in cavities and forages on bark
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Broadleaf Tree
Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Fall Color
Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Hard MapleRock Maple
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Sugar Maple?
The easiest way to identify Sugar Maple is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Sugar Maple?
20-35 m
How wide does Sugar Maple spread?
10-15 m
Is Sugar Maple edible?
Yes
How big is Sugar Maple?
60-100 cm
How long does Sugar Maple live?
200-400 years
Where is Sugar Maple usually found?
Forests and parks
What kind of fruit does Sugar Maple produce?
Samara
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
Jun 2, 2026
Cato Hill Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Branson Khounvichith, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jul 20, 2023
Doane's Fallsi
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Where to spot
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New Jersey, US
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Michigan, US
Devil's Kitchen
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Park46 sightings50 species
Massachusetts, US
Rockdale Common Housing District
You might spot Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Bee, and Eastern Calligrapher.
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Park46 sightings50 species
Massachusetts, US
South Hadley Canal
You might spot Common Eastern Bumble Bee and Eastern Gray Squirrel.
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Park44 sightings50 species
Massachusetts, US
Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary
You might spot Eastern Newt and Eastern Red-Backed Salamander.
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Zoo27 sightings22 species
Michigan, US
John Ball Zoo
You might spot African Lion, Komodo Dragon, and Brown Bear.
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