{"id":270,"date":"2026-09-01T10:08:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T14:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/?page_id=270"},"modified":"2026-09-01T10:08:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T14:08:55","slug":"silver-maple","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/trees\/silver-maple\/","title":{"rendered":"Silver Maple"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acer saccharinum<\/em><\/p>\n

Overview<\/h2>\n

The Silver Maple is a fast-growing native hardwood known for its distinctive leaves, graceful branching, and remarkable adaptability. Named for the silvery-white undersides of its leaves, the tree creates a shimmering appearance when moved by the wind, making it easily recognizable throughout the growing season.<\/p>\n

Native to the Appalachian region and much of eastern North America, Silver Maple is commonly found along rivers, streams, floodplains, and wetlands. Its rapid growth and ability to tolerate a variety of environmental conditions have made it a popular shade tree in both urban and rural landscapes.<\/p>\n

Identification<\/h2>\n

Leaves<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Opposite leaf arrangement<\/li>\n
  • Five deeply cut lobes<\/li>\n
  • Bright green upper surface<\/li>\n
  • Silvery-white undersides<\/li>\n
  • Yellow fall color, occasionally tinged with orange<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Bark<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Smooth and gray on young trees<\/li>\n
    • Develops long, shaggy strips and ridges with age<\/li>\n
    • Mature bark often appears loose and flaky<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Flowers<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Small red to yellow-green flowers produced in late winter or early spring<\/li>\n
      • One of the earliest native trees to bloom<\/li>\n
      • Flowers appear before the leaves emerge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Fruit<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Paired winged seeds known as samaras<\/li>\n
        • Among the largest samaras of North American maples<\/li>\n
        • Mature in late spring and are dispersed by wind<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Size<\/h3>\n
            \n
          • Typically grows 50 to 80 feet tall<\/li>\n
          • Can exceed 100 feet under ideal conditions<\/li>\n
          • Develops a broad, spreading crown<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Native Range<\/h2>\n

            Silver Maple is native to eastern North America and occurs naturally throughout the Appalachian region, including West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. It is most commonly found in floodplains, river valleys, wetlands, and other areas with abundant soil moisture.<\/p>\n

            Its tolerance for flooding and rapid growth make it well suited to riparian environments and disturbed sites.<\/p>\n

            Ecology and Wildlife Value<\/h2>\n

            Silver Maple provides important habitat and food resources for wildlife.<\/p>\n

            Its seeds are consumed by:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • Finches<\/li>\n
            • Grosbeaks<\/li>\n
            • Squirrels<\/li>\n
            • Chipmunks<\/li>\n
            • Other small mammals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              The tree’s large canopy offers nesting sites and shelter for birds, while its early spring flowers provide nectar and pollen for pollinating insects.<\/p>\n

              Because it often grows near waterways, Silver Maple also contributes to streambank stabilization and helps improve water quality by reducing erosion and intercepting runoff.<\/p>\n

              Human Uses and Cultural Significance<\/h2>\n

              Silver Maple has long been planted as a shade tree because of its rapid growth and adaptability.<\/p>\n

              The wood has been used for:<\/p>\n

                \n
              • Furniture<\/li>\n
              • Flooring<\/li>\n
              • Pallets<\/li>\n
              • Crates<\/li>\n
              • Pulp and paper products<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Although it is less dense than Sugar Maple, Silver Maple is sometimes used in maple syrup production and other specialty wood products.<\/p>\n

                Its graceful form and striking foliage continue to make it a popular landscape tree throughout much of North America.<\/p>\n

                Silver Maple at Marshall University<\/h2>\n

                Silver Maples contribute shade, wildlife habitat, and seasonal beauty to the Marshall University Arboretum. Their distinctive leaves and shimmering appearance in the wind make them among the easiest maple species to recognize on campus.<\/p>\n

                As an Appalachia-native tree adapted to river systems and floodplains, Silver Maple highlights the importance of riparian forests and demonstrates the ecological diversity of the region’s native tree species.<\/p>\n

                Quick Facts<\/h2>\n

                Common Name:<\/strong> Silver Maple
                \nScientific Name:<\/strong> Acer saccharinum<\/em>
                \nFamily:<\/strong> Sapindaceae
                \nNative Region:<\/strong> Appalachia Native
                \nMature Height:<\/strong> 50-80 feet (occasionally 100+ feet)
                \nMature Spread:<\/strong> 35-70 feet
                \nGrowth Rate:<\/strong> Fast
                \nSun Requirements:<\/strong> Full Sun to Partial Shade
                \nSoil Preferences:<\/strong> Moist soils; highly tolerant of periodic flooding
                \nUSDA Hardiness Zones:<\/strong> 3-9
                \nBloom Period:<\/strong> February to April
                \nFruit\/Seed:<\/strong> Large paired winged samaras that mature in spring
                \nWildlife Value:<\/strong> Provides food, nesting habitat, cover, and early-season nectar resources
                \nNotable Characteristics:<\/strong> Deeply cut leaves, silvery leaf undersides, rapid growth, and tolerance of wet soils<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                Acer saccharinum Overview The Silver Maple is a fast-growing native hardwood known for its distinctive leaves, graceful branching, and remarkable adaptability. Named for the silvery-white undersides of its leaves, the tree creates a shimmering appearance when moved by the wind, making it easily recognizable throughout the growing season. Native to the Appalachian region and much<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":224,"featured_media":0,"parent":6,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-narrow.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-270","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/224"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=270"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/270\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/270\/revisions\/271"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}