Which Maple Is It? Identifying Types of Maple Trees

First, Is It Even a Maple Tree?

Maple trees belong to the genus, Acer, and there are quite a few of them. They are deciduous trees—which means that they lose their leaves for part of the year, unlike evergreens.
They have lighter-colored wood and a familiar “tree” shape. In winter, you can check the branching arrangement to narrow it down quickly. 

When learning maple tree ID, remember to start with the leaves and then use those trees to learn the branches, twigs, bark, flowers/seeds, and shapes. 

1. First, in the spring, look for the “helicopters” that fly off the maple trees. They have a V-shaped form with wings on both sides with seed pods in the middle. These seeds are called “samaras.”
2. Of course, maple leaves have a very distinct look. The leaves are pointed and resemble hands. They are also arranged oppositely on the branches and on a single stem (not in clusters).
3. The branches come in opposite pairs. When you see one branch, there will be a partner on the other side of the trunk or a bigger branch. Most deciduous trees have alternate branches, which means they take turns. 
4. Maple trees have individual leaves supported by thin, delicate twigs. They do not have dense clusters of leaves or thick twigs, as you’d find in an ash tree.
5. Finally, the bark of a maple tree is light grey and smooth. As it ages, the bark breaks into fissures. They’re not even ridges but more similar to the way pottery will break and are called “shaggy.”

Narrow It Down

There are 13 species of maple trees native to North America. However, nurseries have sold hundreds of cultivars of those 13 natives, and some imported species, as shade trees for yards. To explore the hundreds of maple trees, Maple-trees.com is a good source, as is this Virginia Tech site.

Identifying the exact cultivar of an ornamental variety is almost impossible, but you can still narrow it down to the species. While there are 13 native maples in North America, not all are located together. There may be only two or three natives in your area, making the task more manageable. 

The Likely Suspects

There are three maples that are common yet often confused: red maples, sugar maples, and silver maples. We’ll break them down below.

If you can recognize these, then others, like the big-leaf maple of the Pacific Northwest or the Japanese maple, are easier to spot. Other trees in the maple family that aren’t true maples, like a boxelder, will be a breeze to recognize.

1. Red Maples

Perhaps the showiest of the maples, Acer rubrum, is one of the earliest trees to change color in the fall and might be the brightest. In nature, red maples are found in many soil types and locations and tolerate wetter conditions than some other maples. They are commonly mistaken for sugar maples; many are tapped every year, whether intentionally or by mistake. 

Rapid-growing and colorful red maples have become a favorite yard tree, and many varieties are available. When planted as ornamentals, these trees typically reach 40 to 60 feet tall. Although they often spread a bit less than sugar and silver maples, they still attain that classic lollipop shape. 

Fall foliage is often fire-truck red but can sometimes take an orange or yellow tint. Spring flowers and new growth are red as well. Red maple bark is smooth on young trees, then develops into longer furrows and ridges, sometimes giving it a striped look. The leaves are a giveaway–the margins (the edge of the leaf) will have small serrations like a saw tooth. Sugar maple margins are smooth.

2. Sugar Maples

Bring on the flapjacks! Sugar maples, Acer saccharum, are long-lived, moderate to slow-growing trees. In the forest, they are upland trees, preferring loamy soil with good drainage. They are shade-tolerant but will enjoy a sunny spot in your yard. 

Sugar maple twigs are a reddish brown, and the bark on mature trees is ridged and tight. The favorite shade tree for yards, sugar maples will eventually spread as wide as 40-50 feet when planted in the open, and their crowns are dense and shady. Choose a sugar maple if you want to plant a tree that may still be there in three hundred years.

Their fall color is usually a deep orange, with some variations to dark salmon and crimson. Occasionally, these trees will take on a golden-yellow autumn color. Summer leaves are as deep green as you could wish for. If you have an upland maple with brownish twigs and smooth leaf margins, sugar maple is a good bet.

3. Silver Maples

These large and rapidly growing trees are found in lowland areas in the wild. They prefer moist, rich soil and can attain giant size, with trunks larger than two feet in diameter not uncommon. Look for them along creeks and rivers, in floodplains, and at the edge of swamps and marshy ground. 

Silver maples, Acer saccharinum, have the same palmate (hand-shaped) leaf as other maples but are much more sharply pointed and deeply indented. The backside of the leaves is a pale silvery-green, hence the name. Fall color is often a pale yellow but can range to gold and hints of salmon depending on location and weather. The bark on mature trees is gray and has a loose or shaggy look. 

Silver maples have been planted extensively as shade trees in yards and parks but can be a nuisance. However, they are majestic trees, and their rapid growth and ease of planting make them a popular choice for quick shade and cover. 

Like many fast-growing trees, they are prone to extensive storm damage and will drop twigs and small branches even in modest winds. Keep silver maples away from septic fields and pavement. Their roots commonly heave sidewalks and driveways. 

Walk outside and look for gorgeous maple trees. You’ll soon be able to tell the difference between these three common maples.

Plus, remember: You can make maple syrup from any type of maple tree as long as the trunk is 10 inches in diameter at chest height!