![]() ![]() If you look closely you will see each pair of buds is rotated about 180 degrees from the previous set, which helps keep the tree in balance when the buds become branches. Maple trees are unique as they are one of the few trees with opposite leaf buds. While at first it might be hard to tell the difference, maple trees have two very distinguishing features: the bark and the branching patterns. However, they are a vital species that provide the world with beautiful foliage, habitats for wildlife, and numerous products.Most Canadians know how to identify a maple tree just by looking at the leaves for that unique maple shape, but how can you tell which tree is a maple tree once all of the leaves are gone? Often, they are survivors to the point of being invasive. Horticulturists have selectively bred many species for their beauty. They are valuable on several scores, whether as a landscape addition or for a more utilitarian purpose in the sawmill. Its wood is used for woodworking, but it’s not used often as an ornamental tree in landscaping.Īs you’ve seen, Maples tell a diverse story. It’s a tolerant species, which may come into play with an expanding range of climate change. As the name implies, it’s a tree of the southeastern United States. It’s smaller than the Sugar Maple, both in size and color. It’s less beneficial to places where it can take over the forest canopy.Ī post shared by Legg Creek Farm end as we began with the Southern Sugar Maple. It is a pioneer species, which means it can inhabit bare ground before other plants. The tree is also fast-growing, which is good news if you want shade. While it is a striking ornamental tree, it is also invasive. The Norway Maple is a Eurasian species introduced to the United States in the mid-1700s. Norway Maple ( Acer platanoides) Image Credit: Pixabay It is even a popular species for bonsais.Ĥ. ![]() Probably no other species has seen so many variations, with over 1,000 cultivars grown worldwide. Horticulturalists have selectively bred it for various ornamental cultivars. Japanese Maple ( Acer palmatum) Image Credit: PixabayĪs you may expect, the Japanese Maple isn’t native to the United States. Nevertheless, it is still valuable as a shade tree with beautiful fall colors and ornamental variety.ģ. It’s also not as valuable since the wood is sometimes brittle. Hence, its other moniker is the soft maple. While it also produces sap, it isn’t nearly as sweet as our previous example. The Silver Maple gets its name from the lighter color of the undersides of its leaves that resemble the color. Silver Maple ( Acer saccharinum) Image Credit: crystaltmc, Shutterstock The tree can reach 80 feet tall or more, with diameters up to 3 feet.Ģ. It is native to various provinces in Canada, Missouri, and Virginia. It produces the famous syrup, and the lumber is vital for various products, including baseball bats and guitars. The Sugar Maple is probably the most valuable and popular of the genus Acer. Sugar Maple ( Acer saccharum) Image Credit: Paula Cobleigh, Shutterstock Our round-up includes some of the most popular and recognizable of these trees. Numerous cultivars also exist that are selectively bred for several characteristics, such as size, profile, and color. The United States is home to 45 species, both native and introduced. There are over 130 types of maple trees around the world. These trees serve many purposes, from a high-quality timber source to ornamental additions to yummy maple syrup. It and Sugar Maple are two of ten that make up 45% of the total volume. They’re also common elements of our forest, and the Red Maple is the number one species by number. Undoubtedly, you’ve climbed a few of them as kids. Maples are the quintessential backyard tree. ![]()
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