# 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. - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 20 - **Habitat:** Forests and parks - **Also known as:** Hard Maple, Rock Maple ![Sugar Maple](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771438769/objects/4786.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Sapindaceae - **Genus:** Acer ## 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 - **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. - **Winter Warrior:** Sugar Maple has thick bark and strong wood that help it survive harsh northern winters and protect against damage. - **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 - **Spread:** 10-15 m - **Edible:** Yes - **Size:** 60-100 cm - **Lifespan:** 200-400 years - **Fruit Type:** Samara - **Growth Rate:** Medium - **Leaf Type:** Deciduous ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses young maple saplings - **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — feeds on the tree's winged seeds - **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — visits early spring flowers for nectar - **Shelter:** [Downy Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/downy-woodpecker) (*Dendrocopos pubescens*) — nests in cavities and forages on bark ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## 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? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Delaware and Raritan Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-and-raritan-canal) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Devil's Kitchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/devils-kitchen) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Rockdale Common Housing District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rockdale-common-housing-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [South Hadley Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-hadley-canal) — Massachusetts, US · Historic Site - [Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wachusett-meadow-wildlife-sanctuary) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [John Ball Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/john-ball-zoo) — Michigan, US · Zoo [View all places to see Sugar Maple](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sugar-maple) ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [Sugar Maple: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sugar-maple)