Silver Maple is a species of maple native to the eastern and central United States and southeastern Canada. Its natural range extends from New Brunswick, central Maine, and southern Quebec, west in southeastern Ontario and northern Michigan to southwestern Ontario, and south in Minnesota to southeastern South Dakota, eastern Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
Silver maples are large and deciduous in nature. They can thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. The tree has also introduced to areas of the Black Sea coast of the Soviet Union, where it adapted to the growing conditions and is now reproducing naturally in small stands.
A mature silver maple stands between 50 to 70 feet tall with a spread of 40 to 60 feet. The opposite-facing leaves turn yellow and brown during the fall, and drop off during the winter months. In the spring, the silver maple is one of the first trees to bloom, producing showy red flowers. Silver maples have a strong oval shape, although some cultivars have branches that are susceptible to breakage, requiring careful pruning.
Silver Maple can live up to 130 years or more and is a fast-growing species, with a growth rate of 3-7 feet per year. Other common names for this tree include silverleaf maple, white maple, river maple, swamp maple, water maple or soft maple.
Despite its popularity as a shade tree, the Silver Maple has some drawbacks. Its brittle branches and twigs are prone to breaking, showering debris on the ground, and its invasive root system can damage sidewalks, foundations, and septic fields.
Characteristics of Silver Maples
- Size : Silver maples are medium to large trees, growing 50-80 feet tall and 35-70 feet wide.
- Leaf Shape and Color: The leaves are opposite, simple, and palmately lobed with 5 lobes. They are green above and silvery-white below, giving the tree its name. In the fall, the leaves turn yellow or golden.
- Bark and Twigs: The bark of young branches is smooth and varies in color from reddish to yellow-gray. As the tree matures, the bark develops long, wide strips that turn upward at the ends. The twigs are slender and brown or reddish-brown.
- Flowers and Fruits: They are dioecious, meaning they have separate male and female flowers on different trees. The flowers are small and green, appearing in early spring before the leaves emerge. The fruits, called samaras, are paired winged seeds that are 1-2 inches long. They ripen in late spring to early summer and are dispersed by wind.
- Soil and Water Requirements: They prefer moist, well-drained soils but can also tolerate wet conditions, including occasional flooding. They are adaptable to a range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sand. They are not drought-tolerant and require regular watering during dry periods.
- Sun Exposure: They grow best in full sun, but can also tolerate partial shade. They require at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal growth and health.
- Wildlife Value: They provide food and habitat for various wildlife species. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds, while the leaves and twigs are consumed by deer. The trees also serve as nesting sites and cover for birds and other animals.
- Hardiness Zone: These maples are hardy in USDA zones 3-9, which means they can tolerate cold temperatures and a wide range of climate conditions.
- Root System: They have a shallow, fibrous root system that can spread up to 25 feet from the tree. The roots can be invasive and may cause damage to sidewalks, driveways, and foundations if planted too close to these structures.
- Branches: The branches of the silver maple are slender and brittle, making them prone to breakage in high winds or heavy snow. Regular pruning can help maintain a strong, healthy tree structure.
- Lifespan: Silver maples have a moderate to fast growth rate and can live for 70-100 years or more, depending on growing conditions and care.
- Growth Rate: Silver maples can grow 3-7 feet per year under ideal conditions, making them one of the fastest-growing species of maple. However, this rapid growth can result in weaker wood and a shorter lifespan compared to slower-growing trees.
Uses of Silver Maples
Despite their weedy nature, silver maples are used as an ornamental tree in urban areas. In the home landscape, silver maples serve as shade trees. Due to their early and rapid establishment, the silver maple has uses as a rehabilitation tree on land that have been mined or deforested. Because they are one of the first trees of the spring to produce pollen, silver maples are an important tree for bees and other pollen-gathering insects. Birds and other animals often rely on this tree as a habitat and food source.
The wood of the silver maple is a hard, softwood that lends itself to wood working. The wood has an even texture that is easily shaped and useful for making everyday items. Silver maple wood is used for making everything from cabinets to flooring to paneling and furniture. Some wagons and carts are made from silver maple wood. The wood from this tree is even used to make musical instruments.
Cultivars of Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
| Cultivar | Description |
|---|---|
| Acer saccharinum ‘Laciniatum’ | Also known as Cutleaf Silver Maple, this cultivar has deeply cut, lacy leaves. |
| Acer saccharinum ‘Pyramidale’ | Also known as Columnar Silver Maple, this cultivar has a narrow, upright growth habit. |
| Acer saccharinum ‘Wieri’ | Also known as Weeping Silver Maple, this cultivar has a pendulous growth habit and cascading branches. |
| Acer saccharinum ‘Aureum’ | Also known as Golden Silver Maple, this cultivar has yellow-green leaves. |
| Acer saccharinum ‘Flamingo’ | Also known as Flamingo Silver Maple, this cultivar has variegated leaves with pink and white margins. |
| Acer saccharinum ‘Bail’s Silver’ | A fast-growing cultivar with a dense, rounded crown and silver-white bark. |
| Acer saccharinum ‘Burgundy Belle’ | A cultivar with burgundy-red leaves in spring, which turn green in summer and orange-red in fall. |
| Acer saccharinum ‘Cinnamon Toast’ | A cultivar with cinnamon-colored bark and bright green leaves that turn yellow in fall |
Pruning Silver Maples
Prune silver maples to promote healthy, strong structural branches. Remove branches that grow straight away from the main trunk or in angles of 30 degrees or less — branches that grow away from the trunk, or leader, in angles between 60 and 70 degrees make the sturdiest structural branches. These upright growers can develop dense crowns of long, weak branches, so open the crown by removing branches that lay across others. Remove competing structural branches that grow closer than 6 to 12 inches to others on the trunks of young trees and “water sprouts,” branches that grow straight up in bunches along larger branches.
What Shrubs and Trees Go Well With Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum): A native tree that offers vibrant fall foliage and has similar growing requirements to the Silver Maple.
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.): A small tree or large shrub with beautiful white flowers in spring and edible berries in summer.
- Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis): A small tree with showy pink or purple flowers in spring and heart-shaped leaves.
- Dogwood (Cornus spp.): A small tree or large shrub with beautiful flowers in spring and colorful foliage in fall.
- Viburnum (Viburnum spp.): A diverse group of shrubs with attractive flowers, berries, and foliage.
- Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.): A popular flowering shrub with large, showy flowers in spring.
- Azalea (Rhododendron spp.): A smaller, deciduous relative of the rhododendron with beautiful flowers in spring.
- Witch Hazel (Hamamelis spp.): A small tree or large shrub with fragrant, spidery flowers in late winter or early spring.
- Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.): A popular flowering shrub with large, showy flowers in summer.
- Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia): A flowering shrub with clusters of pink or white flowers in late spring.