How to identify Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)
Silver maple, also known as Water maple, White maple
Silver maple is distinguished by its unique foliage with silvery undersides, providing a shimmering effect. The leaves are palmate with deep lobes, typically reaching 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm) in width. Its bark is a characteristic gray to dark brown that develops a textured, shaggy look as it ages through flaky scales. The tree demonstrates a rapid growth habit and possesses a graceful, spreading form with branches prone to breakage.
Lifespan: Perennial
Plant Type: Tree
Leaf Type: Deciduous
Palmate leaves with deep lobes and silvery undersides, 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm) wide.
Bark transitions from gray to dark brown, developing shaggy textured scales with age.
Rapid growth habit with weak, brittle branches prone to breakage in high winds.
Distinctive samara fruit with wing pairs spanning 80 to 90 degrees for wind dispersal.
Clustered flowers in small greenish-yellow to red blooms from February to April.
The leaves of silver maple are distinct with their size ranging from 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm) in length. They are opposite and palmately veined, featuring 5 deeply cut lobes. The upper surface is medium green, while the underside is silvery, creating a noticeable contrast. In autumn, the leaves exhibit a combination of yellow, brown, and green colors. The texture is notable for its variation between the upper and lower surfaces.
The flowers of silver maple are small, greenish-yellow to red, and bloom in early spring. They are regular and pentamerous, arranged in racemes, corymbs, or umbels. Each flower consists of five parts, contributing to their distinct structure. Blooming typically occurs from February to April, making them one of the first signs of spring. Despite their subtle appearance, these clusters are vital for early pollinators. Flowers lack a prominent scent but provide a crucial resource for the ecosystem.
The stem of silver maple is lustrous red to brown with a smooth surface in its first year. As it ages into the second year, it becomes gray. Notably, the branches of silver maple are often weak and brittle, prone to breaking during high winds or when burdened with ice or snow in winter. These stems can grow rapidly, contributing to the plant's overall fast growth rate.
The fruit of silver maple is a distinctive samara, a type of dry fruit that is winged and papery in texture. Each samara bears pairs of wings that span apart at a wide angle, ranging from 80 to 90 degrees, allowing for effective wind dispersal. These wings are typically light brown and can appear from late spring through mid-summer, present from April to July. The samaras are relatively small, not typically considered decorative, and are a subtle feature amongst the foliage.
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Scientific Classification of Silver maple
