Silver Maple Tree: Acer saccharinum

The Silver Maple tree is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree native to North America. It is known for its distinctive silver underside of leaves and its adaptability to various soil and moisture conditions. They offer many landscaping advantages, adding aesthetic and functional value to outdoor spaces. These trees are renowned for their impressive size, distinctive foliage, and ecological contributions, making them a popular choice for various landscape designs.

It is native to North America and can often be found in the wild along rivers and creeks. Arborists and horticulturists know it as the Acer Saccharinum. Its names include water, swamp, silverleaf, white, and soft maple. It's beloved for its large canopies and foliage.

Identifying the Silver Maple Tree 

Acer Saccharinum is considered large. It can grow up to 70 feet with a width of 50 feet. Gardeners and landscapers can expect it to grow between three and seven feet per year. The bark is gray and smooth. As it ages, the bark develops lines or stripes. Its leaves grow to lengths of between three and six inches. They are green in the spring and summer, change colors in the fall, and fall to the ground in the winter.

Where To Plant Silver Maple Tree 

Due to its mature height and spread, the Acer Saccharinum looks best in a large yard. Planting it next to rivers, lakes, or streams is often most beneficial. It also does well in shade gardens, the primary shade-providing plant.

Due to its large size, the Acer Saccharinum attracts a variety of wildlife. Birds, including finches, wild turkeys, wood ducks and grosbeaks, squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, beavers, and deer, can often be found around it. 

What to Plant Next to This Native

Acer Saccharinum has a wide canopy and a large spread of roots that grow close to the soil's surface, so it's best to plant greenery and shade-tolerant flowers. Some great plants to grow next to the Acer Saccharinum include Pennsylvania sedge, hepatica, columbine, and Canada violets. If you're a gardener looking to plant at the edges of the canopy, Solomon's seal, columbine, ostrich ferns, and lady ferns make great choices.

They Are Very Fast-Growing 

Silver Maple Trees can add a focal point to large yards and shade gardens. Landscapers and gardeners love them because they grow well around water and, with their large canopy, provide a lot of shade.

What is the difference between a silver type and a red type?

The Acer saccharinum has large, basically pentagonal leaves with silvery irradiation and rather deeply subdivided; the red (Acer rubrum) has the most rounded leaves that turn bright red in autumn. Further, the growth rate of silver is relatively high, and its spread is wider than that of red.

How Fast Do They Grow?

They grow very fast, 3 to 5 feet growing every year if favorable conditions are favorable. This fast growth makes them good for any large area where shade is needed faster, like large projects.

What is its lifespan of It?

The life ranges between three decades and half a century but can extend to 70 years at times. Because of vigorous growth, it contains a shorter lifespan than other tree species with a gradual growth rate.

Facts About This Native

It is a very tolerant tree that prefers soil with different pH levels and can be planted in the middle of cities. Its striking silvery leaves, besides providing aesthetic value, allow the tree to lose little water and, therefore, thrive in arid environments. They shed massive amounts of what is known as "helicopter" seeds that spin as they hit the ground.

What are the characteristics of them?

Silver Maple Trees are fast-growing deciduous trees with deep-lobed, shiny leaves on the back. They can grow up to be between 15 and 27 meters tall and have a wide, dome-shaped crown that provides adequate shade. Acer saccharinum is usually chosen due to its toughness and the speed with which the trees are grown.

This Is How Your Plants Will Look upon Delivery

Bloom Season

Spring

Bloom/Foliage Color

Yellow

Height at Maturity

Over 25 Feet

Care

Silver Maple Trees flourish in damp, well-drained soil. Regularly water during dry periods and mulch around the base to retain soil moisture. Prune in winter or early spring to preserve shape and remove dead branches. Watch for pests and diseases.

Plant Reproduction

Silver Maple Tree spreads through wind-dispersed seeds called samaras.

Plant bare root trees during the dormant season in early spring or late fall (November through April). Dig the hole twice as wide as the roots so the soil is well-drained. Position the tree so the root flare is at or just above ground level. Fill the hole back with the soil you dug from and water. Maintain soil moisture, especially in the tree's early years, by providing deep, regular watering. Apply a 2-4 inch mulch away from the trunk at the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Prune trees during the first few seasons to establish strength and resilience, remove damaged branches, and continue maintenance pruning as the tree matures. Regularly inspect for pests and diseases and apply integrated pest management practices. Protect young trees from mechanical damage and extreme temperatures with tree guards, and stake them if necessary for support, removing the stakes after one or two years.

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