All About the Sugar Maple:
Scientific Nomenclature: Acer saccharum
Common Names: sugar maple, hard maple
Mature Height: 40–100 feet
Mature Spread: 30–60 feet
Growth Rate: Slow
Attracts Wildlife: Pollinators, moths, birds and small mammals
Messiness: Foliage will turn color and drop by winter. Long drooping flowers are present in spring and paired, papery-winged samaras mature and drop during summer.
Shape: Oval
Native to Kentucky: Yes
Preferred Soils: Prefers moist, well-drained neutral (6.0–8.0pH) or acidic (<6.0pH) soils with high organic matter content. Has no preference over clay, loam or sand. It is intolerant of compacted soils and pollution.
Screening: Has no use as a screening or privacy tree.
Drought Tolerance: It is intolerant of drought and high heat.
Coniferous or Deciduous: Deciduous
Pruning: Sugar maples do not require pruning though deadwood can be removed when the tree is dormant to keep the tree vigorous.
Climate Quick Facts:
Following being planted as a sapling, over 20 years one sugar maple will:
- Sequester ~478 pounds of CO2.
- Reduce stormwater runoff by 84 gallons.