If you have an abundance of maple trees on your property, you probably have considered tapping the tree for precious maple sap and boiling it into delicious maple syrup. But how do you know if your trees are sugar maple trees or one of the other varieties of maple?
The best way to identify a sugar maple tree is by looking closely at its leaves— it will have five points and smooth edges. There are several other ways to identify a sugar maple tree. For example, sugar maple trees can also be identified by their twigs, bark, branches, shapes, flowers, and seeds.
Continue reading to learn more about the valuable sugar maple tree and how you can identify it!
How To Identify A Sugar Maple Tree
The sugar maple tree has seven unique features that, with practice, you can use to separate it from other trees that look similar. These features are:
- Leaf
- Shape
- Bark
- Twigs
- Seed
- Range
- Wood
In this article, we will review these seven characteristics of sugar maples as well as the characteristics of their most common lookalikes.
Sugar maple trees are identifiable in many different ways. In some cases, especially during maple sugar season, when there are no leaves on the trees, you must rely on a combination of qualities such as bark, twigs, and the shape of their branches.
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According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, there are seven qualities you should consider when identifying a sugar maple tree: leaf, shape, bark, twigs, seed, range, and wood.
Identifying the Sugar Maple Leaf
No leaf is more iconic than the leaf of a maple tree. The sugar maple leaf is featured on the Canadian flag, after all!
Sugar maple leaves grow opposite of one another along the twig. They are three to five inches long and have five lobes similar to a human hand, where each hand is a finger. However, according to the University of Maine, the two lobes close to the base of the leaf are smaller than the other three lobes.
Sugar maple leaves are often confused with red maple leaves, but red maple leaves only have three lobes and rough-toothed edges. (Sugar maple trees have five pointed lobes and smooth edges, similar to a human hand.)
What makes sugar maple leaves unique from other types of maple trees are the relatively smooth edges. Other maple tree leaves have rougher edges that may look like the teeth on a serrated knife. Sugar maple leaves have gentle teeth that look more wavey than they do serrated.
Shape of the Sugar Maple Tree
Sugar maple trees grow between eighty and one hundred feet tall. Sugar maples are large trees; their trunk diameter can be three feet or more!
When growing without competition for canopy space with other trees, the sugar maple forms a sizeable symmetrical crown around its trunk that you can see from a distance.
Bark of the Sugar Maple Tree
The bark of young maple trees is light gray to brown. This bark is smooth in texture. As a sugar maple ages, its bark goes from darker gray to almost black.
Mature sugar maple bark forms irregular furrows and crevices. Often the bark may look like it is flaking away from the tree’s trunk. Don’t worry; this is normal for a mature sugar maple tree!
Twigs of the Sugar Maple Tree
The young twigs of a sugar maple tree are smooth, slender, and reddish-brown in color. They have sharply pointed winter buds. The buds form opposite each other on the twig and are held tightly against the side of the twig.
The twigs have leaf and flower buds on them in the spring that are held close to the twig and are dull brown or gray. Other varieties of maple have red buds in the spring that can be seen from a distance.
Seeds of the Sugar Maple Tree
The seed of the sugar maple tree is sometimes referred to as “the fruit.” These seeds form in fused pairs that resemble the blades of a helicopter. They are about one inch long and grow in the sharp shape of the letter V. This strong V shape distinguishes them from other maple trees.
The most notable difference between sugar maple seeds and other maple seeds is that they mature and fall in the fall. The seeds of the commonly confused silver and red maple trees fall in late spring and early summer.
If you’re interested in learning more about the different varieties of helicopter-shaped seeds on maple trees, check out these maple trees that produce the most helicopter seeds.
Range of the Sugar Maple Tree
Sugar maples are found throughout the eastern united states, west through Minnesota, and South to Tennessee. Compared to other species of maple, this is a more narrow range. Therefore, the maple tree in your yard is probably a different species if you live outside this range.
The red maple tree is more common than the sugar maple and has a broader range that covers most of the United States.
Sugar maples prefer rich loamy soil in moist areas with significant rainfall.
Wood of the Sugar Maple Tree
The internal wood of a maple tree is light brown, firm, heavy, and hard. Sugar maples have the hardest wood of any other maple tree and are coveted as a construction material.
Sugar maples have a close grain pattern and are used to manufacture flooring, furniture, and fuel. Unfortunately, its wood is so coveted that this tree has been threatened by deforestation.
Trees Often Confused With Sugar Maple
According to Michigan State University Extension, the maple tree falls into two distinct genera or families. There are more than one hundred and seventeen species within these two families!
Maple trees are spread throughout the northern hemisphere and love temperate climates. However, among all of these different maple trees, only some of them reach the size of a full-grown tree.
Other types of maples grow to be large shrubs or small trees. You’ve already done half the identification work if your maple tree is large!
Even though there are many species of the maple tree, three different types of trees are often confused for one another due to their similar size, shape, and range. These are; the sugar maple, the red maple, and the silver maple.
Sugar Maple Trees Are Often Confused with Red Maple Trees
Let’s drill down into the identification of the Red Maple tree to see how it differs from a Sugar Maple tree.
Red Maple Leaf Often Confused with Sugar Maple Leaf
Like the rest of the maple family, red maple leaves grow opposite one another along the twig. They are two to five inches long and often have only three lobes, though they can sometimes have five. The edges of the leaf are serrated and doubly toothed compared to the sugar maple tree.
The upper surface of the leaf is light green, and the lower surface is white and covered in a very fine furry down. The buds of the leaves and flowers are bright red in the winter and can often be seen by a bystander looking up from the ground.
Red Maple Shape Often Confused with Sugar Maple
Red maple trees grow forty to sixty feet tall, making them smaller than sugar maple trees. When you look at a red maple tree from a distance, you will notice it forms a narrow rounded crown, also smaller than a sugar maple tree.
Overall the shape of the red maple tree is narrower than that of the sugar maple. To truly get a grasp on these differences, it is best to view the tree from a distance.
Red Maple Bark Often Confused with Sugar Maple
The park of young red maple trees is light gray and smooth. As the tree ages, the bark darkens to dark grey and is sometimes reddish in color. Old bark forms shallow, scaly ridges that can flake off from the surface of the bark, making the tree appear shaggy.
It is no coincidence that red maple trees have “red” in their name. All of the different parts of this tree appear blushed with red during different stages of growth.
Red Maple Twigs Often Confused with Sugar Maple
The young twigs of a red maple tree form red leaf buds and red flower buds clusters that can easily be seen from the ground while looking up. The twigs are slender, shiny, and medium brown.
The next time you go for a walk in the winter, look at the tops of your neighborhood trees, you may just see a red sheen along the top of the tree. This is a sure indication of a red maple tree.
Red Maple Seeds Often Confused with Sugar Maple
The seed of the red maple tree is made up of two wings fused at the center. Each seed is one-half to an inch in length on a long drooping stem.
The seeds can be reddish-brown or yellow in color. Again, look for the slightly red hue on the seeds to identify the red maple.
The most notable difference between red maple and sugar maple seeds is that they fall in late spring or early summer. As a result, these seeds germinate immediately, while the sugar maple seed overwinters and germinates in the spring.
Red Maple Range Often Confused with Sugar Maple
Of all the different maple trees on this list, the red maple is the most plentiful and widespread. It is native to the eastern United States. However, the red maple tree is fast growing and can re-populate areas of deforestation more quickly than other types.
The red maple tree grows mostly in the eastern United States, north to main, south to Florida, and west to the rocky mountains.
Red Maple Wood Is Often Confused with Sugar Maple
The wood of the red maple is also heavy and close-grained. However, the wood has been relatively weak compared to its more robust cousin, the sugar maple. Despite this, red maples are still valued for their use in furniture manufacturing and fuel.
The fast-growing nature of the red maple tree makes it a good choice for those looking to plant a commercial wood crop for food or fuel.
Can You Tap Red Maple Trees for Maple Syrup?
Now that we have reviewed the similarities and differences between the commonly confused red maple and sugar maple trees, you may have discovered that the maple trees on your property are red maple. But don’t worry; red maple trees can also be tapped for sap and boiled down into delicious maple syrup!
Red maple trees are currently being considered for use as a maple syrup food crop because they are more plentiful, grow faster, and more readily recover after deforestation.
Red maple trees grow in more diverse climates than sugar maple trees. Therefore, maple syrup could be tapped from red maples and produced in a broader area making maple syrup more accessible to all.
Traditionally experts have thought that red maple trees produce less sweet, diluted sap. Research has shown this to be accurate, but red maple trees also create much more liquid than sugar maple trees, resulting in the same amount of maple syrup once the sap has been boiled down.
Curious about learning how to tap your maple trees for maple syrup? The Tap My Trees Maple Sugar Starter Kit has everything you need to get started.
In short, you can tap your red maple tree just like sugar maple trees! Follow the same processes you would use to tap sugar maple trees.
Curious about what other trees you could use to harvest maple syrup? Check out how to find and identify some of the best trees here.
Sugar Maple Trees Are Often Confused With Silver Maple Trees
Next, let’s dig into the identification of a silver maple tree to see how it differs from a sugar maple tree.
Silver Maple Leaf Often Confused with Sugar Maple
Like the sugar maple and the red maple tree, silver maples have leaves that grow opposite one another along their stem. The silver maple has the most deeply lobed leaves of all maple tree leaves.
The silver maple tree has rough-toothed edges with deep furrows along the leaf veins. These deep furrows are one of the defining characteristics of a silver maple tree compared to other trees in its family.
The leaf is pale green on top and silvery underneath. You may notice the leaves of the silver maple tree flashing their silver color at you in the wind. This phenomenon is where the silver maple tree gets its name.
Silver Maple Shape Often Confused with Sugar Maple
Silver maple trees grow up to one hundred feet tall and have three feet or more in diameter. The trunk is usually short and divided into several long ascending limbs. This branching style sets it apart from other maple trees.
From a distance, the silver maple tree has a large round crown with slightly drooping branches that turn up at the end. Because of this unique growing style, the silver maple tree is often planted for shards in sunny areas.
Owners must be careful, as the rapidly growing silver maple branches can be weak and susceptible to being blown down in a storm.
Silver maple trees grow large and love water; according to Michigan State University Extention, the roots tend to seek out water in drain fields and sewer lines. Left to their own devices, these root systems could sneak into your infrastructure and cause damage.
Watch out! A silver maple is just one of several trees that can damage your foundation!
Silver Maple Bark Often Confused With Sugar Maple
The bark on young silver maple trees is smooth and varies in color from reddish to yellow-gray. Older branches have dark gray bark, and you may see the bark flaking off into large pieces.
Unlike other maple trees, silver maple trees decay quickly when damaged or exposed to the environment. If your tree bark has flaked off to the point of being able to see the bark underneath, you may have a weak tree. Consider cutting or pruning the tree to avoid property damage.
Silver Maple Twigs Differ From Sugar Maple
The buds along the twig of a silver maple tree are rounded and red in color, similar to the red maple tree.
Remember, if you are identifying a sugar maple, you will not see any reddish color in the leaf buds or flower buds.
Silver Maple Seeds Differ From Sugar Maple
The silver maple tree has the same classic seeds that resemble a winged pair of helicopter blades. Each seed’s wing is one to two inches long.
What is different about a sugar maple tree is that the angle of the two seeds is much broader than the sugar maple or the red maple. Like the maple tree, the silver maple seeds mature in spring and germinate immediately.
Silver Maple Range Differs from Sugar Maple
Silver maple trees are most common along river bottoms and other areas where the soil is deep and moist. It occurs throughout the Eastern United States and up into Canada.
In contrast, sugar maple trees grow more uniformly in their environment. Their range extends north into Canada as they are well adapted to cold temperatures.
Silver Maple Wood Differs from Sugar Maple
The wood of the silver maple tree is light-brown and robust. It is relatively hard but brittle and is easily worked, making it a good choice for wood carving. This wood is occasionally used commercially and is often grown alongside red maple for its timber.
The wood of the silver maple decays fast when exposed to weather and, due to its branching pattern, is susceptible to having branches broken off in storms and high winds.
How to Identify a Sugar Maple Tree
Now that we have reviewed some of the general characteristics of sugar maple trees and their close relatives, let’s isolate the features of the sugar maple tree that make it stand out from the rest.
These characteristics of a sugar maple tree are much different from its look-alikes.
Sugar Maple Trees Have Unique Leaves Among Maples
First, the sugar maple tree leaves have two main distinctions from the other types of maple. Sugar maples have a five-lobed leaf, while red and silver maples most often have a leaf with only three lobes.
The sugar maple tree leaves have more smooth, almost wavey edges. In addition, sugar and red maple trees have more toothed advantages that appear similar to a serrated bread knife.
Sugar Maple Tree Seeds Mature In Autumn
The second way you can distinguish a sugar maple tree from its similar relatives is by the maturation rate of its seeds. Sugar maple tree seeds mature and fall to the ground in the fall. The seeds of the sugar and red maples fall in spring or early summer.
If your maple tree drops its seeds around the same time it drops its leaves; you have a sugar maple! If your maple tree drops its seeds in the spring, you have a different type of maple tree.
Sugar Maple Trees Have Dull Spring Buds
The third primary identifier that sets sugar maples apart from their kin is their relatively dull-colored spring buds.
Red maple and silver maple tree leaves bud out in the early spring, a deep red color that can be seen from a distance. So if your maple tree has red buds in the spring that you can see while looking up into the tree from below, then you have a red maple tree.
If your maple tree does not have a blush of red buds in the spring, there is a good chance your tree is a sugar maple tree!
Sugar Maples Have Unique Bark
Its dark bark is the final way to tell a sugar maple from the rest of the maple family. Generally, red maple trees have lighter and smoother bark.
This difference may be difficult to discern when the tree is young. A red maple tree often has a red sheen to its bark, especially where the bark scales are flaking off.
A sugar maple’s bark darkens as it gets older. If your maple tree has dark gray bark, it is likely a sugar maple!
How To Tell The Type of Your Maple Tree
There are many different kinds of maple trees. So how do you know which one is growing in your yard? Start by reviewing the qualities of this article’s three most common types of maple trees: sugar maple, red maple, and silver maple.
Compare the qualities of your tree to what is listed here. Pay special attention to the characteristics that make each type of maple tree unique. Do you see any of these characteristics reflected in your tree?
The easiest way to differentiate between maple trees is to look closely at the leaves, as each tree’s leaves are slightly different, even though they may look similar. Also, pay attention to the details, like if the edges are wavy or toothed.
If you’re trying to identify your maple tree when it doesn’t have any leaves, read up closely on the different types of bark, twigs, and seeds that maple trees can produce. It is possible with practice to identify between varieties of maple trees just by looking at their bark.
This skill will come in handy when trying to identify your sugar maple trees during sugaring season when the trees don’t have any leaves!
Let’s Review!
Sugar maple trees are lovely when integrated into your property, for beauty, or as a food source.
Remember to review the unique characteristics included in this article if you have inherited property with maple trees but aren’t sure if they are sugar maple trees. Pay special attention to the leaves, twigs, and bark.
If you are still struggling to identify your tree, consider purchasing a tree identification book such as The Sibley Guide To Trees or the National Audubon Society Trees of North America.
If you discover that your tree is a different kind of maple, you can still tap it for delicious maple syrup and enjoy the tree for many years to come.
How many sugar maple trees will you be able to identify on your property?
References
Bal, T.L., Storer, A.J. & Jurgensen, M.F. Evidence of damage from exotic invasive earthworm activity was highly correlated to sugar maple dieback in the Upper Great Lakes region. Biol Invasions 20, 151–164 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1523-0
D’Amato, A. Red maple as crop trees for maple syrup production.
Nyland, Ralph D. 1999. Sugar maple: its characteristics and potentials. In: Horsley, Stephen B.; Long, Robert P., eds. Sugar maple ecology and health: proceedings of an international symposium; 1998 June 2-4; Warren, PA. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-261. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 1-13.
Oswald, E. M., Pontius, J., Rayback, S. A., Schaberg, P. G., Wilmot, S. H., & Dupigny-Giroux, L. A. (2018). The complex relationship between climate and sugar maple health: Climate change implications in Vermont for a key northern hardwood species. Forest Ecology and Management, 422, 303-312.
