The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is a large, wonderfully suited shade tree for larger lawns. The sugar maple exhibits spectacular leaf and bark interest with exceptional fall color in shades of orange, yellows, and reds. A thick canopy of long, horizontal branches stem from a strong, dominant trunk of great dark contrasting color and texture. With more than 45 cultivars, sugar maple trees come in various sizes, shapes, and fall color patterns. As a native tree hardy in zones 4 8, Nashville is host to many spectacular native sugar maple trees.
Sugar Maple Stats:
Flower: Greenish-yellow perfect flowers are showy in a subtle way. Forming flowers for 3 4 weeks prior to leaf break, they stand out in the landscape for a long time. Typical flower period is from late March into early April.
Foliage: Opposite, simple, 3-5 lobes with deep “U’-shaped sinuses, 3″ to 6” long.
Fruit: Samaras (whirly birds) with divergent wings that mature September to October, yet often devoid of any viable seeds making propagation difficult.
Habit and Mature Size: Large, upright oval, pyramidal, to round form. Very dense foliage. Obtaining mature sizes of 75′ wide by 120′ tall. Champion sugar maple tree resides in Lyme, CT and is 112′ wide by 91′ tall.
Insect and Disease: Leaf scorch is likely during drought periods of high heat. Compounded by surrounding paved surfaces. Maple decline (Verticillium wilt) can seriously affect the overall vigor of trees leading to a higher rate of insect and diseases occurrences such as Rhystima, a fungal leaf disease which can defoliate and lead to unsightly colored trees.
If you have any questions about how to choose the best tree for your property in Nashville or Middle Tennessee. Or if any other tree questions or need a Tree Service, Call Us 615.832.2410 or Contact Us Here
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