Their classical maple-like leaves have silver-white undersides that flash attractively when fluttering in the wind on their long leaf stalks.

While they have fallen out of favor for street use, they still make gorgeous specimen or shade trees wherever they have room to grow. Their fast growth also makes the wood brittle and prone to storm damage. Silver Maples were once widely planted as urban street trees until their shallow, aggressive roots damaged sidewalks and buildings. These fast-growing trees prefer deep, moist, acidic soil in full sun or partial shade but are highly adaptable to various soil types, moisture, and urban pollution. The Silver Maple is another beautiful maple native to eastern North America and also found throughout KY, where it grows in woodlands, floodplains, and riparian areas. Images via Fast Growing Trees and by Renee Mcgurk, CC BY 2.0 – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize Other Common Names: Sugar Tree, Rock Maple, Sweet Maple, Curly Maple, Bird’s Eye MapleĪverage Size at Maturity: 60 – 115 ft (to 150 ft) tall, 40 – 50 ft spreadįlowering / Fruiting Season: Inconspicuous yellow flowers emerge with leaves from April to May samaras (winged seeds) mature in SeptemberĪvailable at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills In the fall, their gorgeous five-lobed maple leaves turn vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and orange-red, often with all three colors appearing simultaneously.įor more information, check out how to identify the Sugar Maple. Their deep roots will also allow them to thrive during those occasional summer droughts. They do, however, tolerate both full sun and full shade and almost any soil type except pure sand and permanently wet soils. However, Sugar Maples are also widely used in backyard landscaping and make spectacular shade trees, particularly in rural or suburban areas, since they don’t tolerate road salts or urban conditions. But they need cold winters for sugar production (USDA Zones 3 – 5), so they produce less in KY’s temperate climate.

These trees are famous for the tasty maple syrup made from their sap. The Sugar Maple is a large maple tree that is also native to Kentucky. Images via Fast Growing Trees – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize

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