They shouldn’t be planted near structures. The silver maple may not make the best tree for your yard because its limb growth structure is often weak and can lead to easy breakage during storms. This tree is native to America and is widespread across the northern continent. Their leaves have five lobes and tend to be thinner and more serrated or jagged than other types of maples. Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) trees get their name from the silvery-blue underside of their leaves, making them easily identified from other varieties of maples. In fall, they display bright yellow to reddish-purple foliage, depending on the cultivar. Norway maples can be identified by their milky secretion when leaves and twigs are plucked (a feature that other maples don’t share). While these maples aren’t great street trees for those reasons, they’re commonly planted in urban areas because they have a high tolerance to pollution, drought, wetness, and acidic soils. This tree doesn’t live as long as other maple species, and it has a shallow root system similar to a red maple. Norway maples have a distinctive interlacing bark pattern with a round, dense crown and large leaves that maintain the distinctive five-lobed shape of the Acer genus. The Norway maple tree (Acer platanoides) isn’t native to America this is a widely planted tree that is considered invasive since it will out-compete native trees in wild areas due to its shade tolerance and quick growth speed. In fall, this maple’s leaves give a fiery red display, hence its name. However, it has shallow roots, which means that it shouldn’t be planted too close to structures or paving. This common landscape tree is a great neighborhood tree since it can tolerate wet soil and flooding (it’s sometimes known as the swamp maple).

The red maple’s bark forms in thin, vertical ridges that will easily chip off. Red maples are among the first trees to bloom in spring, putting out red flowers that are important for pollinators early in the year. In certain ways, they are hardier than their sugary cousins, being tolerant of a wide variety of soil types and weather, ranging from Florida to upper Canada. While they aren’t the best for syrup production, red maple trees offer equally dense foliage and ornamental value. Red Maple TreesĪlthough the sugar maple is the poster child of maple trees, red maples (Acer rubrum) are the most common species across eastern North America. A sugar maple’s autumnal colors may range from yellow to orange and red. Its bark is strong, with flaky-looking sheets in vertical ridges. However, it doesn’t do very well in compacted or salty soil, making it a better choice for large yards or parks rather than along streets or in areas with lots of foot traffic. This tree does best in soil that’s not too wet and not too dry, and it is one of the maples that is quite tolerant of shade. It’s common across the eastern and northeastern American continent, and this is the species that lends its leaf’s shape to the Canadian flag the defining feature of the sugar maple leaf is its pointed, five-lobed shape. The famous sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is an important economic and ecological fixture, being the premier syrup-producing maple tree. Non-native but similarly common varieties of maples include the Norway and Japanese maples, each getting attention for their own particular ornamental or functional contributions to a location’s canopy. Perhaps the most well-known American maple is the sugar maple, although red and silver maples are equally popular choices for planting.

All maples also have their distinctive pointy-lobed leaf, although the forms and color will vary from species to species. The spring flowers of maple trees are also important resources for local pollinators of all kinds. Almost all types of maple trees are great habitats for wildlife as well, providing dense foliage, high refuge, and nutritious forage for squirrels, birds, and other small to medium-sized mammals. There are 13 species of maple that are native to North America and about ten times that number across the world, at nearly 130 types of maple trees found in America, Europe, and Asia.ĭespite the unique aspects of each maple species, every maple tree has samara seeds (more commonly known as helicopters or propeller seeds), with flowers that bloom in spring and leaves that drop throughout fall. While all maple trees have certain similarities, which is why they are all grouped into the genus Acer, there are many species of maple trees that can be found in the Northern Hemisphere. How Many Species of Maple Trees Are There in the United States?

Best type of maple tree to plant