What hardiness zones is Acer saccharum suitable for?

Acer saccharum is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

What are the sun requirements for Acer saccharum?

Acer saccharum requires Full Sun.

How much water does Acer saccharum need?

Acer saccharum has Medium water needs.

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Broadleaf Deciduous Trees

Acer saccharum

sugar maple

Sapindaceae

Eastern North America, Nova Scotia to Manitoba, south to Georgia and Texas

At a Glance

TypeTree

HabitUpright

FoliageDeciduous

Height60-80 feet (18-24 m)

Width40-60 feet (12-18 m)

Maturity25 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 8

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators

Native to North America

Maintenancemoderate

Overview

Acer saccharum is a large deciduous tree reaching 60–80 feet (18–24 m) tall and 40–60 feet (12–18 m) wide at maturity, with a dense, rounded to oval crown. Leaves are palmate with 5 lobes separated by rounded U-shaped sinuses, 3–6 inches (8–15 cm) across, medium to dark green above and paler beneath, turning brilliant yellow, orange, and red in fall — among the most reliable and vivid fall color of any North American tree. Bark is gray, developing deep furrows and irregular ridges with age. Small yellow-green flowers appear in drooping clusters in April with the emerging leaves. Paired samaras ripen in September through October. Growth rate is slow to moderate, 1–1.5 feet (30–45 cm) per year. Sugar maple is the primary commercial source of maple syrup; a single mature tree yields 10–20 gallons (38–75 L) of sap per season. In the Pacific Northwest, performance is variable: the species grows well west of the Cascades in cooler, moister sites with adequate summer irrigation, but struggles in hot, dry inland valleys and alkaline soils. Unlike silver and red maple, sugar maple is intolerant of road salt, compacted soils, reflected heat, and extended summer drought — conditions that cause early leaf drop, scorch, and gradual decline. It is not recommended as a street tree in PNW urban settings.

Native Range

Native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia and Manitoba south to Georgia and Texas. Found in well-drained, fertile upland forests at elevations from near sea level to 3,500 feet (1,070 m). The Pacific Northwest lies outside its native range; the species requires careful siting here.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a specimen shade tree in large residential or park settings in the Pacific Northwest, where cooler and moister microclimates allow it to perform well. Best suited to sites west of the Cascades with loamy, acidic soil and summer irrigation. Allow 40–60 feet (12–18 m) horizontal clearance. Not suitable for street planting, roadsides, or sites with summer drought, alkaline soils, or road salt exposure.

How to Identify

Identified by palmate leaves with 5 lobes separated by rounded U-shaped sinuses — not the sharp V-shaped sinuses of Norway maple. Leaf margins have a few coarse teeth. Petioles do not exude milky sap when broken (distinguishing it from A. platanoides). Paired samaras are set at roughly 60 degrees. Fall color is reliably brilliant yellow to orange-red in most individuals, more consistent than red maple. Bark develops deep furrows and irregular ridges with age, gray to gray-brown.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height60' - 80'

Width/Spread40' - 60'

Reaches mature size in approximately 25 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

green

Foliage Colors

dark green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

orange

red

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Blooms April, with small yellow-green flowers in pendulous clusters 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) long appearing with or just before leaf emergence. Individual flowers are 0.1–0.2 inch (3–5 mm); the display lasts 2–3 weeks and is not ornamentally prominent. Samaras ripen September through October.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow-green

Foliage Description

medium to dark green in summer; brilliant yellow, orange, and red in fall

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Partial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loamsilt

Drainage

well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

20-30 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

In the Pacific Northwest, site sugar maple in a location with deep, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5–7.0), protection from afternoon sun in zones 7 and warmer, and access to supplemental irrigation during summer drought — without these conditions, performance is unreliable. Water deeply every 7–14 days during summer dry periods once established; the tree does not recover well from repeated drought stress. Apply 3–4 inches (8–10 cm) of mulch from the drip line inward, keeping 6 inches (15 cm) clear of the trunk. Avoid road salt exposure and compacted soils; sugar maple is among the most salt-sensitive of common landscape maples. Do not plant as a street tree in the PNW. Fertilize lightly in early spring only if growth is noticeably poor.

Pruning

Prune during full dormancy (November through January) to minimize sap loss; sugar maple bleeds heavily from late winter wounds. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Young tree structural pruning in years 5–15 develops a strong central leader and well-spaced scaffold branches. Mature trees need minimal intervention beyond deadwood removal. Avoid pruning from February through May when sap pressure is highest.

Pruning Schedule

winter

Maintenance Level

moderate

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic