// SPECIES PROFILE · TREE · NATIVE
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
Sugar maple is the source of maple syrup and the legendary fall color of the eastern hardwood forest — five-lobed leaves turn fiery orange and gold every autumn. Best in cooler, moister sites; eastern OK sits at the southwestern edge of its native range and trees benefit from afternoon shade and irrigation.
// QUICK FACTS
- Family
- Sapindaceae
- Group
- tree
- Native range
- NE North America (eastern OK is range edge)
- USDA hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Mature size
- 60–90 ft
- Sun
- Part shade to full sun (cooler sites)
- Water
- Moist · well-drained
- Wildlife value
- Pollen for early bees; samaras feed birds and small mammals
- Ecological role
- iconic fall color · syrup tap · cool moist sites
