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Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum

Large, deciduous tree with short, stout trunk, spreading open, irregular crown of curving branches that may grow to a height of 90'. This tree is the fastest growing native maple. Frequently used in landscaping as a shade tree because of its rapid growth and toleration of a wide variety of soil types. A good tree for wetland use, restorations, stream edges and floodplains.

USDA symbol: ACSA2

General Information

Plant TypeTree
Height50 to 80 feet
Light ExposureSun, Part Sun
Soil MoistureMedium
Bloom ColorYellow, Red
Silver Maple (Silver Maple<div><em class="small">Acer saccharinum</em></div>)
Photo credit: Minnesota Wildflowers (Click to enlarge)

Tolerances

Flooding / Inundation ToleranceHigh
General Resilience10
Salt ToleranceLow
Stress ToleranceGeneral Disturbance

Pollinator Value: High

Bloom MonthsMarch to April
Pollinator BenefitInsect Pollinated, Provides Nectar, Supports Generalists

Project Planning

Project TypeRestoration, Sandy or Engineered Soils
Coefficient of Conservatism3
Herbivore SensitivityMedium
LifespanPerennial
Rate of SpreadSlow
Soil StabilizationDeep
Vegetative ReproductionAbsent

Range

CountyAitkin, Anoka, Beltrami, Benton, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Pine, Pipestone, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine
EcoregionDriftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains
Approximate Eco ProvinceEastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands