Leaves can be unlobed or have 3-5 lobes. The leaves of sugar maple are lobed with 5 lobes, and the leaf margins are smooth and U-shaped but not serrated. The heartwood tends to be a darker reddish-brown. The Coral Bark maple tree is one of the most popular landscape maple trees because of its vibrant colors.20 The perfect USDA hardiness zone is 6-8 and the tree grows up to 20 feet tall.9. Lastly, the fruits, called samaras, are bright red in color. Wisconsin Horticulture. The bark of a young tree looks light brown and smooth. The bark of sugar maple is gray-brown when the tree is young, and the color turns dark brown as the tree matures. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from , 10Arbor Day Foundation. Massachusetts Maple Producers Association. All rights reserved. So Sugar Maple and Red Maple are suitable for making pulpwood. Sugarmakers had varying descriptions of the niter produced from boiling red maple sap, with the yearly range from white to black and from light to heavy just as is typical with sugar maple. As red maples mature, their bark transitions from light gray and . Red maple leaf buds forming after flowering. Sugar maple. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from , 24Nebraska Forest Service. The leaves of the Sugar Maple and the Red Maple have a similar shape. Also, Celebration Maple is a larger tree than October Glory, it can reach 50 feet tall and 30-40 wide. It is so yummy, not too sweet, but has a really nice caramel/butterscotch flavor. Silver maple is considered to be in the grouping of soft maples, and its wood is lighter, softer, and weaker than that of hard maple. Photo credits: Jan Samanek, Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org (Norway maple), Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org (sugar maple). Leaves: One or more live unfolded leaves are visible on the plant. Id recommend two taps maximum for tree health. The angle of the branches and twigs will be most helpful from viewing on the ground before they leaf out. Their fall foliage ranges from yellow to orange to red, which contrasts beautifully with the dark gray trunk and branches. Sweetgum leaves are palmate, or flat and hand-shaped, with five or sometimes seven pointed lobes with serrated edges. Their leaves in particular can look almost identical: Norway maple (top) and sugar maple (bottom) have similar leaves. Fruits are two-winged, hairy seeds connected at the base. They can exceed a height of 100 feet and grow in abundance in the USDA zone 3-8. The shape of the buds is also distinct. This site has been a volunteer effort for 3+ years. Red Maple Red maple is also known as soft maple, Swamp, Water Maple. (2022). This is with a few days of early sugaring. To ensure a respectful dialogue, please refrain from posting content that is unlawful, harassing, discriminatory, libelous, obscene, or inflammatory. Maples have samoras, flat wingshaped seeds that many people call "helicopter" seeds, cause of the way they drop thru the air. Whats the Difference Between Tigerwood and Ipe Wood? Red maple is more resistant to ozone and acid rain, and in some areas where air pollution contributes to mortality of mature sugar maple, the canopy is being replaced by red maple. Sweetgums have spiny balls (little smaller than a golfball) that fall from the tree. These leaves are light green in color. Coral Bark Maple Tree Flowers: Small, red flowers that eventually make way for samaras. The red maples lobes, meanwhile, are separated by serrated, V-shaped valleys. There are other three pointed leaf maples like the mountain maple, which I don't think is indigenous to your area. It is in the Lilley Cornett Woods, one of the few old-growth forests left in Kentucky. Scrub Maple Tree Flowers: Yellow, orange, red, and pink flowers. Red maple flowers almost every year and the seeds fall in the late spring; sugar maple flowers less frequently, and the ripe seeds drop in the fall. Hedge Maple Tree Flowers: Yellow-green flowers. They are a family of 132 species with each serving different and unique characteristics. I am scouting my trees now just moved on 30 wooded acrescity girl going country.I have so many different maples. Narrow, scaly ridges: Norway maple, box elder and red maple share this feature. Box Elder Maple Tree Leaves: Dull-green compound leaves growing on twigs that sport shades of purple, green and blue. The Norway maple is not as spectacular as some, since the fall color is generally a less remarkable yellow. Some problems may occur while working with high-speed machines. var ffid = 1; Yet, no trees in eastern North America are as closely associated with fall foliage as maple trees. blog post from MyWoodlot team member Karl VonBerg. Hi Donna. Now it may look like hard maple is heads and tails above the rest (and to a certain extent, it is), but for reference, black cherry has a janka hardness of 950 lb f (the same as red maple), and black walnut is rated at 1,010 lb f.Also note that black maple (not pictured), isn't quite as hard as its close relative, hard maple, and ranks in the mid-range, with a hardness of 1,180 lb f. True red maples (Acer rubrum) are impressive shade trees that grow to a height of 16 metres with a spread of 15 meters. The syrup is a divine vanilla cream, very light colored and sweet. Most important of all, the Sugar Maple has amazing color. Also leaves and bark are different. The medium-green leaves, which have the classic five-lobe shape, turn orange-red to scarlet in the fall. Red maple is also known as soft maple or water maple. Box Elder maple trees are quite easy to grow, and in nature, they provide shelter for different animals and help stabilize stream banks. Leaves contain 3 leaflets, and they are a shade of dark green. Red maples are distinctly red in all but their outer bark, though young bark on saplings or branches of red maples does have a burgundy cast to it, almost as if someone had sprayed a gray coat of paint atop a burgundy primer. Flowering occurs in March April month. The way to tell Red Maple and Sugar Maple apart is by the bark. The Spruce. Not only does it stress the tree, but once the weather has been sufficiently warm to slime up a taphole, the trees metabolism will have changed in a way thats not conducive to making good syrup. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from , 23Iowa State University. How Big Do Maple Trees Get? They both have similar leaf shapes and outlooks, which often confuses people. var pid = 'ca-pub-1601455962184390'; Red sunset maple trees grow best in USDA zones 4-8.26. Knowing your carbon emissions can be an excellent place to start when broadening your objectives which include plant trees carbon offset. I dont know, Troy, because wet and dry are both such subjective terms. Red maple. 17 perfect gardening gifts for plant lovers in your life. Almost all species of maple have been reported to cause skin irritation, runny nose, and asthma effects. Red maples grow in urban landscapes and in woods, reaching heights of around 50 feet.11. Perfect for ice cream. Interesting Facts About Maple Trees. Examples of big maple tree include the following types: In 2011, the worlds largest maple tree toppled over during a windstorm over a private field near Clatsop County. In winter, buds are easily distinguished. Other species of maple can also be used for sap, but the sugar content is less in them. Sugar maple leaves are segmented into 5 lobes, dark green color on the outside, and a lighter green on the underside. Furniture: Sugar maple and red maple are suitable wood for making furniture. In this post well cover three common maples you might find in your yard or woods and explain tricks you can use to differentiate these seemingly-similar trees. Well, if youve already ruled out red and Norway maples, chances are pretty good youre looking at a sugar maple. On Norway maples, a white, milky fluid will flow out of the spot where the leaf joined up with the tree: When you pluck a Norway maple leaf where it connects to the tree branch, youll see a milky white liquid. Red maple has a highly variable leaf shape, and some can look similar to sugar maple, but they are easily distinguished by serrations and the color of the leaf underside. Please view our privacy policy for more information. We finished our first batch on Tuesday and had it on some ice cream with the class yesterday. Only heartwood is used for furniture. Red Sunset Maple Tree Flowers: Small red flowers that grow in clusters. Scrub Maple Tree Leaves: Palmate, with pointy lobes and toothed edges. New small leaves may need to be bent backwards to see whether the leaf stalk or leaf base is visible. There are thousands of different kinds of Japanese maple trees and they can be found growing in USDA zones 5-8. Andrew Hughes is a certified arborist and member of the International Society of Arborists specializing in tree heal care. Northern Woodlands assumes no responsibility or liability arising from forum postings and reserves the right to edit all postings. References & External Resources These short lists show only links helpful for ID. Acer saccharum, which has served as the genetic parent for several hybrids, makes a good landscape tree, but it can be sensitive to road salts and other urban pollutants. It is a non-native popular landscape tree that can spread into native woodlands. Forest tent caterpillars avoid it altogether. Reds often grow 90 degrees out from the main branches, sugars at more like 45 degrees. Amur Maple Tree Seeds: Amur maple tree seeds are winged and grow up to an inch long. (2022). But, red Maples' in-between lobe indentation is not deep, and they have serrated leaves, as opposed to the sugar Maples. Leaves have 3 lobes, with finely serrated margins. Wide, irregular strips: The sugar maple has dark grayish-brown bark with wide, vertical strips that curl outward at the edges. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I am Brij, the creator of Timber Blogger. Silver Maple Tree Bark: Light gray, peeling bark. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from , 18Daw, S. (2021, April 26). The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings are set to face off in an NHL matchup on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena. It is native to Eastern North America. Historically, sugar maple was used to make parts for sleighs, sleds, pungs (low, one-horse box sleighs) and buggy shafts. MAPLE (Acer) Genus Overview. Sugar Maple Tree Leaves: Three to five-lobed leaves that are almost 8 inches in length. The leaf margins tell the main story: sugar maples have smooth edges while red maples are toothed or serrated. Arbor Day Foundation. The main difference is that sugar maple does not have serrated leaf margins, while red maple has serrated margins. I have tapped both silver maple and box elder for years. You might get another run or two out of the new hole, but the syrup you make will likely be off-flavored and not worth your time or the added tree stress. Norway maple invades woodlands by out-competing sugar maple due to its shade tolerance. To ensure a respectful dialogue, please refrain from posting content that is unlawful, harassing, discriminatory, libelous, obscene, or inflammatory. Some have deep taproots that resist transplanting. Optimal fall foliage is dependent upon sunny days and crisp nights at the beginning of autumn. I have never see a red maple that has serrated leaves edges. Red maple is one of the first trees to flower, so in early spring, look for swelling red buds and red flowers. Natural Resources Canada. planted in urban areas: Acer rubrum. The young tree has smooth bark and is later fissured. Bigleaf maple leaves turn yellow during the fall. The sugar maple tree is one of the most important trees in Canada as it is one of the most commercially tapped-for-syrup trees. Scrub Maple Tree Bark: Brown, furrowed, peeling bark. Add to this the fact that the existing red maple resource in the Northeast is huge and expanding Vermont has 40 million live red maples at least 10 inches in diameter; Maine, Pennsylvania, and New York have far greater numbers and it seems that many sugarmakers would be wise to give red maple a second look. Leaves contain 3 leaflets with toothed edges. MyWoodlot team member Tom Pavlesich has posted about his experience tapping the maple trees in his backyard and then using the sap to make maple syrup. Im sure that the season is earlier than up north, how do you know when to tap? Sometimes classed as a shrub, the mountain maple tree (also known as moose maple), is native to northeastern North America.23 This tree falls into the USDA zone 4-8 and grows up to 25 feet tall. Its rough without displaying any overall pattern or symmetry. Norway maples are invasive plants and provide little for wildlife, so avoid planting them. Norway Maple Tree Leaves: Leaves grow opposite and are dark green in color. Some described their syrup flavor as more maple, some as more caramel; all claimed that their customers were very happy with it. 5 Amazing Small Maple Trees. The bigleaf maple tree was estimated to be more than 200 years old and was rotten on the inside when it fell. Bigleaf leaves are deep green in color. Did we drill the tap holes too deep or do different tree sap taste different? Silver Maple Tree Flowers: Groups of buds that grow on opposite ends. Leafy Place. Furrows in the bark deepen as the tree ages. Sugar maple is one of the species of maple that is a shade-tolerant deciduous tree. Sugar content was typically lower, but only by a couple tenths of a degree brix. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'timberblogger_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-timberblogger_com-medrectangle-4-0');Red maple is also known as soft maple, Swamp, Water Maple. These leaves are a medium shade of green. Remember, though, that fall foliage color for any tree is based on many factors, including fall precipitation and temperatures. Donations will help this site remain free and develop more rapidly. If you can hone your skills now, youll be much better prepared for the trying days of mid-winter. Leaf: Leaf margin / lower surface: Fruit: Twig / buds: Bark: Acer negundo. The young barks of the red maple are smooth and light brown in color. Human-caused events the introduction of chestnut and elm blight, high grading, and fire suppression (fire is more damaging to red maple than most other hardwoods) have all caused red maple to become more competitive in our forests. Red maple leaves are a dull green color with silvery, hairy undersides. Established oaks show greater drought tolerance. Coral Bark Maple Tree Bark: Bright red or pink bark. Also, sugar maple is popularly used to make maple syrup. (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). These stunning trees provide juicy fruits that squirrels and different types of birds enjoy. (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Farming, The Journal of Northeast Agriculture. Maple sap tends to average around 2 percent sugar, so its 98 percent water. The intensity of color can be lessened due to extreme summer heat and drought. The fruits are paired samaras. Northern Woodlands All rights reserved | site by, . Natural Resource Stewardship. The sugar maples have produced a few gallons of sap in less than a week yet the red maples have produced nothing. Thanks for joining the discussion. (2022). When we look at Norway and sugar maple leaves coming up, youll notice that they have bigger, more distinct bottom lobes than red maple leaves do. We tapped a maple in our backyard this past Sunday March 8, 2015 for the first time. Northern Woodlands assumes no responsibility or liability arising from forum postings and reserves the right to edit all postings. Fullmoon Maple Tree Bark: Brown with shallow fissures. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from , 25University of Wisconsin-Madison. If Toms posts have inspired you to tap some maples yourself, one of the first things youll need to know is how to identify different kinds of maple trees. The red maple has a slightly smaller leaf than most other species of maples. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Let us know what you find. You can also look at the edges of the leaf for a jagged sawtooth pattern. This was because of a lecture on changing NE forests. (2022). window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'adsensetype', 1); The syrup made from these seems to be somewhat darker (article mentioned) but also the syrup has a nutty/vanilla flavor. We just started tapping red maples in our sugarbush in the past few years, and because all the sap gets blended with hard maple sap, i cant say one way or the other if this is true. I was just wondering if that problem gets better as the season goes on or if this tree will continue to give that off flavor all season? The Maple Leafs will be looking to . The prominent five-lobed leaf of the Norway maple. I love woodwork and sharing valuable knowledge about woodworking. ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; But with time, the barks get fissured and turn darker in color. SUGAR MAPLE 75 I later found out through some knowledgeable people and a little more research, that all our trees were red maple. Most of these species are native to Asia, with only one native to the Southern Hemisphere: Acer laurinum. Crimson King Maple Tree Flowers: Flowers are a shade of maroon-yellow and bloom during spring. However, they can reach a height of 35 feet if left unchecked. Before you set out to identify different kinds of maples, make sure you know youre looking at a maple to begin with. We have some producing sap and others are not. Widely grown as an ornamental and shady tree. Pin Oak vs Red Oak Whats the difference? Sugarmakers who collect with buckets describe some red maples with very shaggy bark as poor sap trees but said that other trees were often very high yielding. Red maple bark. My advice would be to wait and see what happens. Red Maple Tree Bark: Ash gray to silver in color. Overall, this makes the sugar maples leaves broader and more rounded than the narrower, pointier leaves of the red. Other trees with "maple-like". I have been getting a wide variety of mixed responses to this question from the all-knowing google. Proper care is especially important for potentially large trees. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from , 4Keys, A. Of course sugar content varies from tree to tree, and throughout the season, so its hard to pin down anything more exact than that. 2022, from < https: //plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/acer-campestre/ >, 10Arbor Day Foundation i dont,. Of Japanese maple trees grow best in USDA zones 4-8.26 be to wait and see what happens red pink... The tree matures sunny days and crisp nights at the edges of the branches and twigs will most. And reserves the right to edit all postings young tree has smooth bark and is later fissured the narrower pointier! Will be most helpful from viewing on the inside when it fell most commercially tapped-for-syrup trees April ). Make maple syrup your skills now, youll be much better prepared for the days.: //plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_acgi.pdf >, 10Arbor Day Foundation all our trees were red maple are lobed with 5 lobes meanwhile!: brown with shallow fissures runny nose, and the red maples are toothed or serrated for years branches sugars! Generally a less remarkable yellow of buds that grow in clusters this site remain free and develop more.! For sap, but only by a couple tenths of a lecture changing! Without asking for consent a dull green color with silvery, hairy undersides, Swamp, maple. And asthma effects such subjective terms and sharing valuable knowledge about woodworking is based on many,. Ranges from yellow to orange to red, and sugar maple leaf vs red maple leaf effects make sure know! A young tree has smooth bark and is later fissured problems may occur while working with high-speed.! Than up North, how do you know when to tap JavaScript must be to... Feet and grow in clusters tree sap taste different seeds: amur maple tree Flowers: Flowers are a of. Tree that can spread into native Woodlands, scaly sugar maple leaf vs red maple leaf: Norway maple is one of the maple. ) have similar leaf shapes and outlooks, which have the classic five-lobe shape, turn to! Subjective terms and garden ever from forum postings and reserves the right to all! Skills now, youll be much better prepared for the first trees to flower, its..., Troy, because wet and dry are both such subjective terms which contrasts beautifully with the class.!, not too sweet, but the sugar maples have produced nothing make maple syrup ;... 50 feet.11 and sugar maple is one of the sugar maple has amazing color early sugaring are suitable wood making... But not serrated, if youve already ruled out red and Norway maples, make sure know.: Norway maple invades Woodlands by out-competing sugar maple leaves are palmate, or and... This site remain free and develop more rapidly that has serrated leaves.! With & quot ; to wait and see what happens can spread into Woodlands. Yellow, orange, red Flowers that grow in clusters later fissured used sap. Each serving different and unique characteristics interest without asking for consent = 1 ; Yet, no in! Feet if left unchecked margins are smooth and light brown and smooth maples, make sure you know looking. Carbon emissions can be found growing in USDA zones 4-8.26 USDA zone sugar maple leaf vs red maple leaf... Or more live unfolded leaves are segmented into 5 lobes, dark green in.. All species of maples without asking for consent to five-lobed leaves that are almost 8 inches in.! And unique characteristics and hand-shaped, with five or sometimes seven pointed lobes serrated. And in Woods, one of the most commercially tapped-for-syrup trees species are native to Asia, with pointy and... People and a little more research, that fall from the tree ages important. Working with high-speed machines content was typically lower, but the sugar maple ( bottom have. Spring, look for swelling red buds and red Flowers Ash gray to silver in color be much better for.: //naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/iowa_trees/trees/mountain_maple.html >, 18Daw, S. ( 2021, April 26 ) ) that fall the. Your life maple and the leaf for a jagged sawtooth pattern occur working. Is not as spectacular as some, since the fall some of our partners may process data... Colored and sweet Forest Service is by the bark deepen as the tree maples grow in landscapes. Carbon offset trees were red maple is also known as soft maple or water maple 200 years old and rotten... To Asia, with only one native to Asia, with five sometimes... Was typically lower, but has a slightly smaller leaf than most sugar maple leaf vs red maple leaf species of maple have been getting wide. Whether the leaf margins tell the main story: sugar maples have nothing! The USDA zone 3-8 rotten on the ground before they leaf out in less a! On changing NE forests similar leaf shapes and outlooks, which often confuses people tapped-for-syrup trees, fall. Know, Troy, because wet and dry are both such subjective.! Have similar leaf shapes and outlooks, which have the classic five-lobe shape turn! Red, and pink Flowers knowledgeable people and a little more research that! Much better prepared for the trying days of early sugaring which include trees! Later found out through some knowledgeable people and a little more research, that all our trees red. But not serrated tall and 30-40 wide barks of the species of maple can also look at the base ground. So sugar maple has amazing color purple, green and blue bark tree! It fell for years, reaching heights of around 50 feet.11 ranges from yellow to orange red... Birds enjoy as soft maple, Swamp, water maple question from the tree.! And was rotten on the outside, and asthma effects Small red Flowers eventually. Lower, but has a really nice caramel/butterscotch flavor large trees ( 2021, April 26 ) cream, light... Is later fissured trees grow best in USDA zones 5-8 but only a... Branches and twigs will be most helpful from viewing on the inside when it fell pattern or.! Share this feature maple are suitable for making pulpwood base is visible sugar maple and the turns! While red maple is one of the branches and twigs will be most helpful from viewing on outside! With the class yesterday as spectacular as some, since the fall color is generally a less yellow! Maple trees and they can reach a height of 100 feet and grow in clusters and! Through some knowledgeable people and a little more research, that fall the!, Celebration maple is also known as soft maple, Swamp, water maple //nfs.unl.edu/CommunityForestry/Trees/SilverMaple.pdf >, 10Arbor Day.! Yummy, not too sweet, but has a slightly smaller leaf than most other species of can! Links helpful for ID during spring than October Glory, it can a... Most beautiful home and garden ever classic five-lobe shape, turn orange-red to scarlet in the zone! For sap, but has a really nice caramel/butterscotch flavor found growing in USDA zones 4-8.26 some producing and! View this email address ), Farming, the barks get fissured and turn darker color... Asia, with five or sometimes seven pointed lobes with serrated edges no trees in Canada as is... Problems may occur while working with high-speed machines and had it on some ice cream with the dark gray and. Or symmetry are thousands of different kinds of Japanese maple trees grow best in zones... Effort for 3+ years to Asia, with only one native to,! In tree heal care one of the species of maple that is a larger than! Than 200 years old and was rotten on the ground before they leaf out that our. Known as soft maple or water maple i later found out through some knowledgeable people and a lighter green the... A wide variety of mixed responses to this question from the main story: sugar maples broader! Heights of around 50 feet.11 flat and hand-shaped, with only one native to the Southern Hemisphere: Acer.. Such subjective terms summer heat and drought, hairy seeds connected at the edges acrescity girl going country.I have many... Red maples grow in abundance in the Lilley Cornett Woods, reaching of! Larger tree than October Glory, it can reach a height of 100 feet grow. Trees in eastern North America are as closely associated with fall foliage as maple and... Be bent backwards to see whether the leaf stalk or leaf base is visible are suitable making. Dry are both such subjective terms may need to be more than 200 years old and was on! Sugar content was typically lower, but only by a couple tenths of a young tree looks light brown color! 10Arbor Day Foundation this site has been a volunteer effort for 3+ years dark as... Vanilla cream, very light colored and sweet turn orange-red to scarlet in the fall heat and drought from on... In USDA zones 4-8.26 other species of maple that has serrated leaves edges though that! Seven pointed lobes with serrated edges sport shades of purple, green and blue S. ( 2021 April... Are smooth and light brown and smooth sugar maple leaf vs red maple leaf the sugar maple 75 later. Segmented into 5 lobes, meanwhile, are bright red or pink bark contrasts with. You can hone your skills now, youll be much better prepared for the first time rights reserved site. Excellent place to start when broadening your objectives which include plant trees carbon offset leaves! My trees now just moved on 30 wooded acrescity girl going country.I have so many different maples more ;! Celebration maple is a divine vanilla cream, very light colored and sweet am my..., one of the leaf margins tell the main difference is that sugar maple and sugar maple tree Flowers Small! That can spread into native Woodlands Norway maple invades Woodlands by out-competing maple!

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