Sugar Maple

Basic Information
Tree ID: 
175
Family: 
Sapindaceae
Genus and species: 
Acer saccharum
Description: 
True Northeast icon, this Sugar Maple is even more gorgeous alone on Halloween, although in reality, its gorgeous cascade of blazing reds, golds, and oranges makes it one of the continent's most hallowed trees. Autumn is their season, here an absolute spectacle, reducing landscape to living paintings and drawing locals off-branching tourists by the droves for one look at New England's seasonal magic. This specific tree, however, is more than just eye candy. Early spring, when warm weather arrives but nights still snap with cool, this Sugar Maple works behind the scenes: dripping sap that, boiled, is converted to that rich, gold syrup that sweetens breakfasts across America. Some 40 gallons of sap yield one gallon of maple syrup, a testament to nature's slow, generous rhythms. Its sweet offering aside, Sugar Maple is an admirable member of local landscape citizenship. Its wide leaves offer dappled summer shade, creating cool microclimates for ferns and in-dwellers below. Its limbs offer nesting to birds, seed rewards to squirrels, and nutrient-rich components to soil when it falls. Its hardwood is also prized for strength and beauty, and is used from floor wood to fine violins. Deeply rooted in North American culture and ecology, Sugar Maple is more than all its components in total, it's not simply a tree, but an icon for strength, bounty, and cycles as well. Whether traveling to see it for leaf-peeping, syrup, or simply sitting in its shadow, there's an aspect that this tree offers in every season of the year.
Location
Area: 
Prospect and Sachem
Collected Data
Tree shape: 
Oval
Date of tree entry: 
02/05/2025
Height: 
5.60 m
Diameter at breast height: 
0.12 m

Bark
The Sugar Maple's bark is a muted testament to time's passage and longevity. The wood of the tree is light gray, even, and virtually silver in younger years, a smooth surface testifying to active younger years. As years pass, however, the bark hardens, darkens, and develops lengthwise ridges and furrows, with plates that flake outward like the curling off an old scroll's parchment. Those flaking plates comprise one of the giveaway features on an older Sugar Maple, creating a textured, near-braided look on the trunk that develops character with years. Unlike its cousin, Silver Maple, which peels off more readily in strips, Sugar Maple's bark retains tight adherence, an armor to ward off years of weather, insects, and change. Place your hand over the trunk, and contrast hard ridges with deep grooves, all hard and weathered. The grooves may become mossy and lined with lichens, tiny universes in hollows in the bark, illustrating just how much in tune this tree is with surroundings. Its bark is especially dramatic in winter, as it casts long shadows in the sparse light on its weathered, rough surface. In summer, it merges with cool green and brown tones in woodland surroundings, and in autumn is background to fireworks that erupt above. In even deadest months, however, the bark bears witness to Sugar Maple's strength, energy, and unspoken history.
Twigs & branches
Twigs and branches of Sugar Maple have subtle strength and beauty. The twigs in early years are reddish-brown, slender, and smooth, frequently ending with sharply pointed, neatly sorted-out pairs of buds. These very faintly glossy reddish-brown terminals resemble tiny spears, topped by overlapping scales that close tightly over new growth that will open in spring. If you bend one twig gently, it is likely to bend, and that is proof that life is just under the bark. As it matures, those spindly little branches become a cluster of more sturdy limbs that stretch out in an elegant, opposite fashion, that one of the classic features of maples. That opposite branching is responsible for the density and symmetry of the crown, as it becomes a wide, rounded canopy that's as useful as it is beautiful. In summer, that dense branching is blanketed in a thick layer of leaves that bring needed shade; in autumn, those branches look afire as leaves erupt in gold, crimson, and tangerine. With coming on of winter, leaves fell away, sap in slumber, inner shape of Sugar Maple revealed. Under blue heaven or drifts of snow, twig and branch are skeletal lines, sculptural in austerity, reminiscent of veins from trunk to horizon. Beyond their shape, these limbs are lines of life, carrying water, nutrients, and sugars throughout the tree, including that mythical sap soon to be drawn from tapped limbs in early spring. As years go by, the lower branches fall off naturally and the ones on top stretch out towards sun and wind. This branch system that is constantly on the move does not just form the Sugar Maple's refined outline, but it also offers perches to birds, highways to squirrels, and shelter to multitudes making use of this shape for hunting as well as shelter.
Foilage
The most dramatic feature of Sugar Maple is foliage, a virtual symphony of color, texture, and ecological function throughout the seasons. Leaves possess classic maple form, big, palmately lobed, with five pointed terminations, and open, airy structure with conspicuous veins. New leaves in spring possess soft green, almost translucent tips when new leaves unfold from constricted buds. With expanding canopy, leaves develop into rich, dense mantle that shades light, cools air, and offers critical cover to insects, birds, and mammals alike. Summer sees their adult leaves reach their rich, dark green, their expansive surface area drinking in all available photosynthesis. Stand in summer's heat in the shade of a Sugar Maple, and their leaves offer dappled, cooling shadow that creates a restful microclimate below, perfect for ferns, woodland floor flowers, and the luckiest ones who manage to picnic or catch some winks in their cooling shade. You might even notice their leaves whispering in harmony with the breeze, creating soft, rustling sounds that're as much a part of the Sugar Maple's signature as is their color. It's in autumn that Sugar Maple leaves truly have their day in the spotlight. As temperatures drop and days begin to shorten, the chlorophyll in the tree is withdrawn, unmasking the hidden pigments that have been present since summer. Then comes a riotous coloration, glowing greens, blazing oranges turning to searing reds, all on one tree, or even one branch. Which is why Sugar Maple is one of the most favored trees in all of North America, and one of the brightest stars in the autumn foliage travel season. Even as they drop, they're not done. They blanket the floor of the forest in thick, crunchy drifts that rot slowly, depositing organic material on the ground and working hard to feed the next generation. Each leaf, from bud to blaze to decay, is part of one enormous cycle, a story about change, sustenance, and renewal that speaks to the role of this individual tree in the overall system.
Reproductive Structures
The sugar maple is a flowering plant that produces small, greenish-yellow flowers in early spring, often before its leaves fully emerge. These trees are monoecious, meaning individual trees may bear both male and female flowers, typically in separate clusters on the same tree. The male flowers produce pollen, while the female flowers contain ovaries that, once pollinated, develop into the tree's distinctive winged fruits called samaras. These paired seeds are dispersed by wind and play a key role in the sugar maple’s regeneration throughout northeastern forests.
Fruit
The fruit of the sugar maple is a distinctive winged structure called a samara. These fruits develop in pairs, each consisting of a small seed attached to a curved, papery wing that enables wind dispersal. As the samaras mature in late summer to early fall, they turn from green to brown and are released from the tree to spin like tiny helicopters to the forest floor. This efficient dispersal strategy helps sugar maples colonize new areas and maintain their presence in northeastern hardwood forests.
Seasons
  • Winter (February)
  • Spring (April)
Research
Natural range of distribution: 
Habitat: 
Sugar maple thrives in cool, moist temperate climates​. It grows best on deep, fertile, well-drained soils with ample organic matter. In fact, it is commonly found on rich mesic (moderately moist) sites in hardwood forests. While it can tolerate a range of soil pH, it prefers mildly acidic to neutral soils (around pH 5.5–7). Heavy annual leaf litter from sugar maples enriches and slightly acidifies the soil beneath. This species does not do well on waterlogged or very dry, shallow soils – it is rarely found in swamps and tends to avoid drought-prone ridges. In the northern part of its range, January temperatures average around –18 °C (0 °F) and summers are mild​, whereas in the south of its range it withstands warmer summers (July ~27 °C) provided moisture is sufficient​. Across its range, precipitation varies widely but generally the growing season rainfall is well-distributed​. Elevation: In northern regions, sugar maples grow from near sea level up to about 750 m (~2,500 ft) – the upper limit marked by cooler high-elevation climates where boreal species take over. Light tolerance: Sugar maple is notably shade-tolerant; seedlings can survive under a forest canopy for years, waiting for openings. Given optimal conditions, sugar maples are long-lived (often 200–300 years) and can become large canopy trees. Ecologically, this species is a cornerstone of the northern hardwood forest, often co-dominant with American beech and yellow birch. It is a key contributor to the rich, multicolored fall foliage display in the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada.
Origin, history, and uses: 

The sugar maple is native to North America, one of roughly twenty maple species indigenous to the continent​. During the last Ice Age, sugar maples survived in ice-free refuges and expanded northward as glaciers retreated. Fossil pollen and genetic evidence suggest a primary refugium in the southern United States ~21,000 years ago, with possible multiple glacial refugia (in the tropics-southeast, midwest, and northeast) contributing to post-glacial recolonization. The species name saccharum means “sugar” in Latin, reflecting the sweet sap. It was first described by American botanist Humphry Marshall in 1785. Historically, sugar maple’s sap was the premier source of sugar for many Native American peoples and early European colonists, who boiled it into maple sugar and syrup. This cultural significance endures today, as sugar maple remains the primary source of maple syrup. The sugar maple is also symbolically important – it is the state tree of several U.S. states (including New York and Vermont) and the national tree of Canada (featured on the Canadian flag)​.

Phenology: 
In the northeastern United States, the sugar maple’s annual cycle is well-marked by the seasons. Spring Leaf-Out and Flowering: Dormant buds begin to swell in early to mid-spring as temperatures warm. Sugar maples are flowering deciduous trees – their tiny greenish-yellow flowers bloom in spring around the same time as the leaves unfurl​. In fact, the flower buds usually open just before or along with the leaf buds. Depending on latitude and elevation, flowering can occur from late March to May. In northern areas like the Adirondacks of New York, sugar maples typically flower in mid-May when leaves are expanding. The trees are mostly monoecious (bearing separate male and female flowers on the same tree). Early spring pollinators such as honeybees benefit from the maple’s pollen, though wind is the primary pollination agent. Young leaves emerge shortly after bud break, giving the canopy a flush of new green by late spring. Summer Growth and Seed Development: Through late spring and summer, the leaves mature to a dark green and the tree carries out active growth. Fertilized flowers develop into the sugar maple’s distinctive winged fruits called samaras. These paired winged seeds start out green. By late summer (August to early September), the samaras ripen and turn a yellowish tan or light brown color. Each samara contains one seed; sugar maples generally begin producing substantial seed crops after about 30–40 years of age. Height growth of the tree is largely completed by mid-summer (within ~15 weeks of leaf-out). Sugar maple seeds typically drop at the end of summer or early fall, just before or around the time the leaves begin to fall. In the Adirondack region, for example, the winged seeds are released in late summer (often fluttering down in August or early September), ensuring they settle before winter. Autumn Foliage and Leaf Drop: As days shorten and temperatures cool, sugar maple foliage puts on a brilliant fall color display, ranging from golden yellow to vibrant orange and fiery red. In northern hardwood forests, sugar maples contribute significantly to the autumn scenery in September and October. Typically by early to mid-October (in the Northeast), leaves have changed color and soon drop from the branches, marking the onset of dormancy. The dry winged seeds are often dispersed by wind just prior to leaf drop, aiding their spread. The fallen maple leaves create a rich leaf litter on the forest floor, which decomposes and recycles nutrients. Winter Dormancy: In winter, the sugar maple has no leaves and survives the cold season in a dormant state. Its winter buds are tight and pointed, ready to burst the following spring. This dormancy is broken after sufficient chilling (about 2,500 hours below a threshold in northern populations). Late winter is the traditional sap-tapping season: as daytime temperatures rise above freezing while nights remain cold, the sugary sap flows upward, allowing for maple syrup production. This does not significantly affect the tree’s phenology but is an important human use of its winter physiology.
References: 

Adirondacks Forever Wild. (n.d.). Trees of the Adirondack Park: Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum). Retrieved April 22, 2025, from wildadirondacks.org/trees-of-the-adirondacks-sugar-maple-acer-saccharum-Marshall.html

Friends of the Wild Flower Garden. (n.d.). Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) – Plant Profile. Retrieved April 22, 2025, from friendsofeloisebutler.org/pages/plants/maple_sugar.html

Godman, R. M., Yawney, H. W., & Tubbs, C. H. (1990). Acer saccharum Marsh. (Sugar Maple). In R. M. Burns & B. H. Honkala (Eds.), Silvics of North America: Vol. 2. Hardwoods (Agric. Handbook 654). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.

Vargas-Rodriguez, Y. L., Platt, W. J., Urbatsch, L. E., & Foltz, D. W. (2015). Large scale patterns of genetic variation and differentiation in sugar maple from tropical Central America to temperate North America. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 15(1), 257. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-015-0518-7

More
Media and Arts

Tree Rap:

“Sugar Maple Flow” – Yale Nature Walk Rap
Yo, step into the woods, let me give you a taste,
Of a tree so sweet, can’t let it go to waste.
Acer saccharum, that’s the Latin name,
Sugar maple’s in the Sapindaceae game.

It’s an icon, yeah, fall color’s on display,
Fiery reds, golds, lighting up the day.
Drippin’ that syrup like it’s sweet gold sap,
Tappin’ trees in the spring, yeah we run that map.

 Leaves opposite, lobed, smooth between,
Turnin’ red, orange, yellow—fall’s color scheme.
Young bark smooth, then it cracks with age,
Vertical ridges like it’s turnin’ a page.

Flowers bloom in spring, subtle and green,
Wind do the work but insects in the scene.
Samaras spin down, yeah they helicopter,
Seeds catch the breeze like a natural chopper.

 Born in the East, from Georgia to Quebec,
Survived the Ice Age—put some respect.
From Native taps to colonial pours,
Maple sugar legends and syrup galore.

Canada reps it, New York too,
Vermont’s got love, that maple’s true.

 Likes it cool, rich soil, well-drained base,
Shade-tolerant youngin’ holdin’ space.
Lowland north, mountain south,
From sea level zones to the highland mouth.

 Spring buds pop, then flowers gleam,
Summer’s lush with a chlorophyll dream.
Late summer flyin’ seeds in the breeze,
Fall’s crown jewel, colorin’ the trees.
Winter’s nap, but that sap gon’ rise,
In late Feb, tap it—sweet surprise.

 It’s more than a tree—it’s culture, it’s cash,
Fall tours, wildlife, syrup stashed.
The sugar maple’s legacy deep,
From roots to leaves, from dawn to sleep.

So next time you walk where the maples stand,
Give thanks to the tree that sweetens the land.