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To most people the Maple may evoke visions of a large shade tree under which some lucky person lays happily in a hammock. More likely, however, it will cause the mind’s eye to picture the New England landscape ablaze in fiery colors come autumn. Of course, not many people know that those colorful leaves are likely only from a very few kinds of Maple. There are in fact many types of Maple varying in size, shape and growing habits. Some are deciduous, some evergreen, some are trees and yet others are shrubs.
The genus of Acer, the botanical name for the Maple, includes several species each with dozens and dozens of cultivars. That adds up to hundreds if not thousands of different Maples. While they all differ slightly, some more than others, for the most part they all prefer full sun but can tolerate some shade, like fertile, well drained soil and require sufficient water during the growing season to keep their foliage looking vibrant and healthy and they also have the familiar pointy lobed leaves. But even the leaves vary numbering from 3-7 lobes and some don’t look anything like a typical Maple leaf at all. It can get a bit confusing.
The Maple can, in fact, be found virtually all over the United States and Canada so it may seem safe to assume anyone can have some type of Maple for their own home landscape. Alas, not quite. The dry desert regions in the southwest are not suitable for any Maple unless given much water and protected from excessive sun exposure. A daunting task to be sure but possible with enough determination. As for the rest, we got it good and can have almost any Maple we want but which to choose?
Knowing all this it would behoove us to take a closer look at the genus Acer and find out exactly which are the most well known, most readily available and more desirable types of Maple.
Sugar Maple (A. saccharum)
If watching bright green leaves turning a vibrant yellow, stunning red and brilliant orange in autumn isn’t enough to get you to appreciate the Sugar Maple then perhaps the New England sweet treat (Maple syrup) produced with the sap is. Growing 60-75 feet tall, 40-50 wide and hardy in USDA zones 3-8 this lovely, oval canopied tree is cherished as both a shade tree and an ornamental for the home landscape. The awesome shade it produces is due to dense branching. The 3-6 inch wide leaves may be 3-5 lobed and a paler green on the underside. Spectacular specimen in the front lawn or for creating a backyard haven.
Sycamore Maple (A. pseudoplatanus)
A native to Europe the Sycamore Maple grows 40-60 feet tall in USDA Zones 4-7 and gets its name from the peeling bark revealing the under layer, in a pink to light brown color, of the mature tree which resembles that of the true Sycamore tree. Leaves are very much like those of the Sugar Maple in color, size and shape but there is not so startling a change in autumn. The Sycamore Maple does have a tolerance for city living which the Sugar Maple lacks. It can tolerate pollution and salt from winterized streets making it a great urban street tree.
Japanese Maple (A. palmatum)
The Japanese Maple is technically a shrub due to its tendency to produce multiple stems but it can be pruned into a tree shape and easily maintained this way. It grows slowly reaching up to 20 feet tall at maturity. This plant is wonderful as a specimen or in a mixed border because of its year round interest. In spring the foliage is a bright red turning a mellow green for summer and then giving a spectacular autumn show in scarlet, yellow or orange. In winter the bare branches which tend to grow more horizontal than most trees have a greenish or reddish hue to them showing up nicely against snow. The most widely planted and beloved of these are the Red Japanese Maples (A. palmatum Atropurpureum) with their reddish, purple or bronze tinted green leaves. Always a standout in the landscape.
Silver Maple (A. saccharinum)
A fast grower, 50-80 feet high and 35-50 feet wide, the Silver Maple though great for the urban placement because it tolerates compacted soil and air pollution, has the reputation of not being a good tree for planting close to house foundations and sidewalks because of voracious roots nor planted near buildings where stormy weather is the norm. silver Maples have weak limbs which can snap off and crash into windshields and windows. But give this graceful tree a place of its own away form these things and it will make up for these deficiencies with a nice open form, lovely light green foliage with a silvery underside and silver-gray bark which tends to peel off in long strips on older trees. Perfect tree for dry and hot climates and hardy in USDA zones 3-9.
Trident Maple (A.buergeranum)
A rather small tree the Trident Maple grows slowly 20-30 feet high and wide in USDA zones 5-8. It has a lovely rounded canopy making it perfect for the smaller yard. This native to China, often a subject for bonsai, has dark green, 3 inch wide leaves. The undersides are a lighter green and in autumn they turn to red more often than orange and yellow. Older trees have flaking bark which gives it one more thing to love.
Norway Maple (A. platanoides)
Though this Maple growing 50-60 feet tall is very attractive with its broad canopy and dense branching and foliage, perfect for shade, it has a reputation of being a nuisance. In urban areas its voracious root system can break up sidewalks, foundations and roads. In the small home garden it sends hundreds of seeds down into flower beds where they sprout as easily as dandelions. In a large park away from all these things, however, it is wonderful. The best and prettiest cultivar is the Harlequin or “Drummondii”. In the home landscapei ts variegated foliage edged in silvery white looks especially nice when a light breeze catches the sunlight.
Scarlet Maple (A. rubrum)
This maple goes by many names some of which are Red, Swamp, Carolina red, Drummond red, Water and Soft maples. As these names imply this fast grower which can reach 60 plus feet high and 40 wide likes wet, swampy, low-lying areas. It grows in USDA zones 3-9 all along the eastern part of the United States as far west as the Mississippi River. Unlike what you might think the 2-4 inches long, 3-5 lobed leaves are not red but a medium green with a lighter underside. In autumn they are one of the first to turn a brilliant scarlet but the tree itself has red twigs, branches and buds giving it the most common Scarlet name. While it is very tolerant of different soils it will not take well to urban settings and excessive pollution.
Paperbark Maple (A. griseum)
The Paperbark Maple, hardy in zones 4-8 and growing to about 25 feet tall, is a distinctive and very attractive tree for the winter landscape because of its peeling cinnamon colored bark. The canopy is a bit narrow yet rounded and the 2-3 inch long leaves are bright green with a silvery underside. The flowers while insignificant become showy seeds with wings. As it is very late to leaf out in spring it is also late to turn a bright red in autumn and at times can be snipped by frost before it colors up at all. Requires ample water.
These are just a few of the better known Maples some suitable for urban setting while others do better in the home landscape. Any one of these plus the hundreds of other Maples available would be a wonderful tree to have around you. Do consider a Maple tree when deciding on planting a tree. It is almost certain you will agree that the Maple is one of the most beloved of trees.
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 Short Stories @ Helium: http://www.helium.com/users/32782/show_articles
How to create your own backyard bird sanctuary: http://www.helium.com/zone/2884-how-to-create-your-own-backyard-bird-sanctuary
Tree Zone: http://www.helium.com/zone/2774-
Shrub Zone: http://www.helium.com/zone/2881-
Violet’s in Bloom, a romance novel: http://www.helium.com/zone/3012-violet-in-bloom-a-romance-novel-by-glory-lennon
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