Silver Maple (
Acer saccharinum)
DBH 116.8 (cm) measured on 9/18/2020
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Acer saccharinum, commonly known assilver maple,[3]creek maple,silverleaf maple,[3]soft maple,large maple,[3]water maple,[3]swamp maple,[3]orwhite maple[3]—is a species ofmaplenative to the eastern and centralUnited Statesand southeasternCanada.[3][4]It is one of the most common trees in theUnited States.
Although the silver maple‘s Latin name is similar, it should not be confused withAcer saccharum, the sugar maple. Some of the common names are also applied to other maples, especiallyAcer rubrum.
The silver maple tree is a relatively fast-growingdeciduoustree, commonly reaching a height of 15–25m (49–82ft), exceptionally 35m (115ft). Its spread will generally be 11–15m (36–49ft) wide. A 10-year-old sapling will stand about 8m (26ft) tall. It is often found along waterways and in wetlands, leading to the colloquial name "water maple". It is a highly adaptable tree, although it has higher sunlight requirements than other maple trees.
Silver maple leaves
Theleavesaresimpleand palmately veined, 8–16cm (31⁄4–61⁄4in) long and 6–12cm (21⁄4–43⁄4in) broad, with deep angular notches between the five lobes. The 5–12cm (2–43⁄4in) long, slender stalks of the leaves mean that even a light breeze can produce a striking effect as the downy silver undersides of the leaves are exposed. The autumn color is less pronounced than in many maples, generally ending up a pale yellow, although some specimens can produce a more brilliant yellow and even orange and red colorations. The tree has a tendency to color and drop its leaves slightly earlier in autumn than other maples.
Samarasand leaves forming in April
Theflowersare in dense clusters, produced before the leaves in early spring,[5]with theseedsmaturing in early summer. The fruit aresamaras, each containing a single seed, and winged, in pairs, small (5–10mm or 0.20–0.39in in diameter), the wing about 3–5cm (11⁄4–2in) long. The fruit are the largest of any native maple. Although the wings provide for some transport by air, the fruit are heavy and are also transported by water. Silver maple and its close cousinred mapleare the onlyAcerspecies which produce their fruit crop in spring instead of fall. The seeds of both trees have noepigeal dormancyand will germinate immediately. Seed production begins at 11 years of age and large crops are produced most years. Like most maples, silver maple can be variably dioecious (separate male or female trees) or monoecious (male and female flowers on the same tree) but dioecious trees are far more common. They can also change genders from year to year.
On mature trunks, the bark is gray and shaggy. On branches and young trunks, the bark is smooth and silvery gray.