Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
The classic source of maple syrup and spectacular orange-red fall color. Shade-tolerant but very sensitive to road salt, soil compaction, and reflected heat, so it struggles as a street tree in harsh sites. Prune in summer to limit sap bleeding.
Field reference
Family
Sapindaceae
Growth rate
Slow
Mature size
60–75 ft tall, 40–50 ft spread
Hardiness zone
3–8
Soil preference
Deep, moist, well-drained loam; intolerant of salt and compaction
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Pruning window
Summer (after full leaf-out) to avoid heavy sap bleed
Wood properties
Hard, dense, strong diffuse-porous hardwood (~0.63 SG) — the 'hard maple' of flooring. Strong unions; firewood-grade density makes brush heavy to handle.
Native range
Northeastern North America, from Nova Scotia and Ontario south to Georgia
Green weight
56 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Asian Longhorned Beetlepest · Severe severity · peak Adults active and emerging July through OctoberAnthracnosefungus · Moderate severity · peak Spring, during cool, wet, rainy weather at and just after leaf-outVerticillium Wiltfungus · High severity · peak Symptoms appear in summer, often after heat or drought stress (June–September)
Common questions
Why is my sugar maple struggling next to the driveway?
Sugar maple is highly sensitive to road salt and compacted soils. Reflected heat and de-icing salt cause marginal leaf scorch and dieback; choose a tougher species for hot, paved sites.
Will pruning in spring hurt my maple?
It will not kill the tree, but maples bleed sap heavily from late-winter to early-spring cuts. Pruning after the leaves harden off in summer is cleaner and easier to assess.
Related species in Sapindaceae
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