Acer saccharum · Sapindaceae (soapberry family)
Every autumn, sugar maples set the forests of eastern Canada and New England ablaze in orange, red and gold — and every spring, their sap becomes maple syrup.
Quick facts
| Scientific name | Acer saccharum |
| Family | Sapindaceae (soapberry family) |
| Native range | Eastern Canada and the northeastern and central United States |
| Habitat | Rich, moist hardwood forests |
| Typical height | 25–35 m |
| Lifespan | 300–400 years |
| IUCN status | Least Concern (LC) |
Overview
Sugar maple is a dominant tree of the eastern hardwood forest, often growing alongside beech and yellow birch. It is very shade-tolerant, so young maples can wait for decades under the canopy until a gap opens.
How to identify it
Leaves are opposite, with five lobes and smooth, U-shaped gaps between the lobes. Seeds are paired “helicopters” (samaras). Bark is grey and becomes deeply furrowed on older trees.
Uses and culture
In early spring, freezing nights and warm days push sugary sap through the tree. Collected and boiled down — about 40 litres of sap for 1 litre of syrup — it becomes maple syrup. Quebec produces most of the world’s supply. Hard maple wood is also used for floors, furniture and bowling pins.
Ecology
Sugar maples are sensitive to acid rain, soil nutrient loss and warming winters. The species is listed as Least Concern, but researchers expect its range to shift northward with climate change.
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