Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

silver maple

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Acer saccharinum

Family:

Sapindaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

75-100 ft tall by 35-50 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

red turning greenish-yellow

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Deciduous. Flowers before leafing out in late winter - early spring.

Noted For:

Fall Color

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen tree. Frequently used as a street tree as tolerant of root disturbance. Fall color is yellow.

Considerations:

Its prolific root system is notorious for invading and clogging leaky underground drainage and water lines. Susceptible to wind or ice damage due to its brittle wood.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Can be grown from purchased saplings or from seed. Also softwood cuttings.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

--- <------------------------>

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Broadly tolerant

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Mammals

Attracts bees.





Larval host for Cecropia silkmoth ( Hyalophora cecropia ).

The  are important food for squirrels during late winter/early spring. Budburst comes during the critical late winter-spring period when stored food supplies of squirrels are exhausted.  





Important as a beaver food source in areas where it is common. May be important to wood ducks.

Native Habitats:

Floodplains.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Sap could be used for sugaring, but it's only half as sweet as the sugar maple.

General Comments:

Fall foliage color is yellow. While used extensively as a street tree in the north, this fast growing species is relatively weak.