How fast does it grow?

It is a slow to moderate grower, typically adding 1 to 2 feet per year.

Does it need full sun?

It prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade when young.

Plant guide

Sugar Maple.

Acer saccharum

Pronounced AY-ser sa-KAHR-um

Also known as hard maple, rock maple, sugar maple

Acer saccharum — Photo by Aaron W. (CC0) via gbif

The sugar maple is a majestic tree famous for its brilliant fall colors and sweet sap. It thrives in cool, moist climates and serves as a vital part of North American forests. You will love how it provides dense shade throughout the summer months.

Another photo of Sugar Maple — Photo by Tom Norton (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Deciduous tree
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 80 to 115 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 8
Bloom time: Early to mid spring

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but well drained to prevent root stress. Watch for scorched leaf edges during hot, dry spells which indicate a need for more water. Mulching around the base helps retain moisture and protects the roots.

Watering: Water deeply during dry periods to keep the root zone consistently moist.
Feeding: Apply a balanced slow release fertilizer in early spring before new growth begins.
Pruning: Prune in late spring or early summer, after the leaves have fully expanded, to avoid heavy sap bleeding.
Repotting: Repotting is generally only necessary for young container specimens every few years.
Soil: Deep, fertile, well drained loam
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.3
Temperature: -40 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 200 to 300 years.
Deer and rabbits: Low

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Stunted growth despite proper care

Safety

People: It is not considered toxic to humans.
Children: The winged seeds are a choking hazard if ingested by small children.
Contact allergens: The sap can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is a known allergen for many people during the spring bloom.
Edibility: The sap is edible when processed into syrup, but raw consumption of other plant parts is not recommended.

How to identify it

Five lobed leaves with smooth edges
Grayish brown bark with vertical furrows
Brilliant orange and red fall foliage
U shaped sinuses between leaf lobes

Height: 18 to 35m
Spread: 12 to 25m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, green, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Verticillium wilt · A soil-borne fungus that causes branch dieback and yellowing leaves.
Maple scale · Small insects that suck sap and weaken the tree.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: No special care is needed as it is fully hardy in its native range. Ensure the soil remains moist but not waterlogged before the ground freezes.
In containers: It is not suitable for long term container growth due to its massive size.

Seed

Collect seeds in autumn when they turn brown.
Store seeds in a cool, dry place until winter.
Cold stratify seeds in the refrigerator for 90 days.
Sow seeds in pots in early spring.
Keep soil moist until germination occurs.

Plant in groups with other native hardwoods to mimic natural forest conditions.

Grows well with

American Beech · They naturally occur together in climax forest communities.
Eastern Hemlock · They share similar soil and moisture requirements in woodland settings.

Similar species

Red Maple · It is a common relative that tolerates wetter soil conditions.
Norway Maple · It looks similar but is considered invasive in many parts of North America.

Science

Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Acer
Order: Sapindales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Eastern North America
Conservation: It is not currently listed as endangered or threatened.

It thrives in deep, fertile, well-drained soils and is a climax species in many hardwood forests.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, nesting site
Pollinators: bees
Uses: shade tree, ornamental, syrup production, lumber

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How fast does it grow?: It is a slow to moderate grower, typically adding 1 to 2 feet per year.
Does it need full sun?: It prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade when young.

Where the name comes from

The name saccharum comes from the Latin word for sugar, referring to the sweet sap. The common name sugar maple describes this same characteristic.

Good to know

Sugar maples can live for over 300 years.
The leaves turn brilliant shades of orange and red in autumn.
It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.
The wood is prized for making bowling alley lanes and basketball courts.

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.