Silver Maple

The Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) is a member of the maple family found in the northeastern United States and adjacent parts of Canada and the US central plains. (Brand, 2001). It is a relatively fast-growing tree, commonly reaching a height of 20 m (70 ft). Taller specimens can reach 30 m (100 ft).

The Silver Maple has brittle wood. The roots are shallow and fibrous and easily invade septic fields and old drain pipes. It is, nonetheless, popular as a street and yard tree because of its rapid growth and ease of propagation and transplanting.

The Silver Maple is often found along waterways and in wetlands, leading to the colloquial name 'water maple.'

It is closely related to the Red Maple, and can hybridise with it, the hybrid is known as the Freeman Maple (Acer x freemanii). The Freeman Maple is a popular ornamental tree in parks and large gardens.

Characteristics

Leaves are palmate with deep angular notches between the lobes. The long, slender stalks of the leaves leaves mean that even a light breeze can produce a striking effect as the silver undersides of the leaves are exposed.

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Sapindales Family: Aceraceae Genus: Acer Species: saccharinum