Maturity
- The silver maple tree displays green leaves with a silver tint to the underside that grow to a size of approximately 4...
- The silver maple reaches a mature height between 60 and 80 feet, with a width of 40 to 60 feet, according to the...
What does a silver maple tree look like?
The silver maple is a fast-growing tree that grows 50 to 100 feet tall. Its bark is grayish-brown and becomes shaggy as the plant ages. The leaves are light green on top, silvery on the bottom, 6 inches across, and have five lobes deeply cut into them.
How fast does a silver maple tree grow per year?
That’s at least twice the size of a two-story house. A silver maple tree also grows about three to seven feet per year, meaning it would reach maturity in 6-13 years. It takes many other trees that long or even longer to reach maturity.
What kind of soil do silver maple trees like?
As a tree naturally accustomed to the silt of floodplains, silver maple performs best in a light soil. While silver maple can be grown in wet soils, it tolerates drought once established. For best performance, however, water it regularly when young.
How tall do maple trees grow?
Medium-sized trees have a mature height between 30 and 50 feet. A few maple species fall into this category, including red snakebark maple (Acer capillipes), which reaches 30 to 35 feet and grows in zones 5 to 7. Another example is the 35-foot coliseum maple (Acer cappadocicum), which is suited to growing in zones 6 to 8.
Why are silver maples not recommended?
Some people refer to the silver maple as a dangerous tree because it tends to drop branches and sheets of bark that can jam lawnmowers or, far worse, drop huge limbs that easily could damage houses, fences, or power lines.
Is silver maple a good tree?
Why even consider this tree if it has so many drawbacks. It is a fast grower and is good on soils that need improvement and where most other plants will not grow. It can be very attractive in large open areas on the edge of the farmhouse landscape and it does create very good shade in a short amount of time.
How much space does a silver maple tree need?
The Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) is also known as a Soft Maple. This fast-growing tree can grow up to 50-80 feet and a width of 35-50 feet. You should give at least 40 feet (ca. 12 m) of space in between trees.
How long does a silver maple take to grow?
The silver maple is the fastest growing of any maple species. It can easily reach 50 feet in height within 20 years. And thanks to the adaptability of the species, it has grown popular for sites too difficult for other trees to grow such as poor and compact soil, and hot, dry, conditions (hardiness zones 3-9).
Do silver maples have helicopters every year?
It depends on what kind of maple tree you have, and each is on its own schedule: Silver maple – late spring. Red maple -in late spring or early summer and fall. Sugar maple – The samaras have 1-inch wings that ripen from early summer into autumn.
How far do silver maple roots grow?
With small maples, like the Japanese maple, the roots are typically only 3 feet deep. For larger varieties, including sugar, red, silver, and Norway maple, expect the maple tree root system to reach 10–20 feet in depth when the tree is mature.
How do you keep a silver maple small?
Prune silver maples to promote healthy, strong structural branches. Remove branches that grow straight away from the main trunk or in angles of 30 degrees or less -- branches that grow away from the trunk, or leader, in angles between 60 and 70 degrees make the sturdiest structural branches.
Where is the best place to plant a silver maple?
Grow silver maple tree in full sun for best results, although it is tolerant of partial shade.
How far should a maple tree be from a driveway?
It's a good idea to plant red maples at least 6 feet from fences and underground pipes and wiring; 8 feet from walks, driveways and electrical transformers mounted on concrete pads; at least 15 feet from buildings, septic systems and swimming pools; and 30 feet from overhead electrical power lines.
What is the prettiest maple tree?
Most important of all, the Sugar Maple has amazing color. In the spring and summer, the leaves are a shade of rich green that develop shades of gold, orange and red during fall. This tree has three different traffic-stopping colors every spring, causing it to stand out as the prettiest tree on the block.
What are the worst trees to plant?
Here are some trees you should not plant in your property.Red Oak. Red oak is one messy tree. ... Sweetgum Trees. Sweetgum Trees are known for their lovely fall colour. ... Bradford Pear. ... Lombardy Poplar. ... Ginkgo biloba. ... Eucalyptus. ... Mulberry. ... Weeping Willow.More items...
What's a silver maple tree look like?
Features 3–6" leaves with 5 lobes separated by notably deep, narrow sinuses. Green on top and silvery underneath through spring and summer, they turn a pale yellow in the fall. Produces red, yellow and silver clusters of small flowers in early spring. Yields pairs of winged seed over 3" long that ripen in late spring.
What is silver maple?
Silver Maple. Acer saccharinum. Very fast-growing. Leaves are green on top and silvery-white on the underside, shimmering and dancing in the breeze. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. Because of a vigorous root system, plant 10' or more from sidewalks, drives, foundations, and sewer lines.
Why were silver maple trees important to the Ohio Valley?
The trees were a staple in many new towns and homesteads on the frontier because of their rapid growth (for quick shade) and ability to adapt to a variety of soil conditions.
When do maple trees ripen?
Produces red, yellow and silver clusters of small flowers in early spring. Yields pairs of winged seed over 3" long that ripen in late spring. They are the largest seeds of all native maples. Grows in a vase shape. Has a wide-spreading root system and a trunk that can become quite massive.
How many lobes does a sage tree have?
Grows very quickly, providing shade earlier than most trees. Features 3–6" leaves with 5 lobes separated by notably deep, narrow sinuses. Green on top and silvery underneath through spring and summer, they turn a pale yellow in the fall. Produces red, yellow and silver clusters of small flowers in early spring.
How tall do silver maple trees grow?
How to Grow Silver Maple Trees. Hardy in zones 3-9, silver maple tree growth is about 2 feet (0.5 m.) or more per year. Their vase-shaped growth habit can top out at anywhere from 50 to 80 feet (15 to 24.5 m.) tall depending on location and can be 35 to 50 feet (10.5 to 15 m.) wide. While they were once widely used as quick growing street trees ...
Why do silver maple trees look like they are shimmering?
Image by seven75. Common in older landscapes because of their quick growth, even the slightest breeze can make the silver undersides of silver maple trees look like the whole tree is shimmering. Because of its wide use as a fast-growing tree, most of us have a silver maple or a few on our urban blocks. In addition to their use as fast-growing shade ...
What animals eat silver maple leaves?
Its leaves provide food for deer, rabbits , cecropia moth caterpillars, and white tussock moth caterpillars. Growing silver maple trees are prone to forming deep holes or cavities that provide homes for raccoons, opossums, squirrels, bats, owls, and other birds.
Why are silver maples important?
Because of this water tolerance, silver maples were often planted along river banks or edges of other waterways for erosion control. They can tolerate high water levels in spring and receding water levels in midsummer. In natural areas, their early spring blooms are important to bees and other pollinators.
Can silver maple trees survive in water?
Silver maples ( Acer saccharinum) prefer to grow in moist, slightly acidic soil. They are moderately drought tolerant, but are more recognized for their ability to survive in standing water for long periods of time.
Is silver maple a pest?
Another drawback to silver maples is that their prolific, winged seed pairs are highly viable and seedlings will quickly sprout up in any open soil without any special requirements, like stratification. This can make them a pest to agriculture fields and quite annoying to home gardeners.
Can silver maples be propagated?
This can make them a pest to agriculture fields and quite annoying to home gardeners. On the positive side, this makes silver maples very easy to propagate by seed. In recent years, red maples and silver maples have been bred together to create the hybrid Acer freemanii.
How tall does a silver maple tree get?
Silver Maple. The silver maple tree ( Acer saccharinum) is one of the most common trees of North America. It generally grows 50 to 80 feet tall, though a 10-year-old sapling will stand approximately 25 feet tall. While it can be an excellent tree for landscaping, it also presents some undesirable characteristics.
What is the fastest growing maple tree?
The silver maple tree is the fastest growing type of maple, making it ideal for planting in landscaping projects. It can recover from flooding and does well in poor, rocky soils. It transplants easily when small and is ideally suited for growing in a nursery.
How do maple trees get their name?
The seeds grow in a pair of "wings.". When mature, they separate and whirl down from the tree on a single " wing.". The leaves themselves are silvery white on the bottom, which is where the tree gets its name .
Why is my silver maple grass uneven?
The root system of the tree grows shallow and will result in an uneven lawn. Great care is required when mowing the grass lawn growing at the base of the silver maple, as mower blades will likely strike the protruding roots. If planted too close to a foundation or sidewalk, the roots can cause an upheaval of the walkway and crack foundation masonry.
Is the bark of a tree smooth?
The bark is smooth on the branches and younger trees. As the tree matures, however, the trunk bark becomes rough and has a shaggy appearance. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge.
Is a spruce tree brittle?
Since it is fast-growing, the wood is softer and more brittle than that of a slow-growing hardwood tree. The tree is easily damaged on windy days and does not fare well in heavy snow or when coated in ice by freezing rain. Downed branches are common and a regular chore to dispose of.
Silver Maple Care
The silver maple is a labor-intensive tree that requires a good bit of effort to care for it. You will want to plan before deciding if it is the right tree for your space, where to plant it if it is, and a plan of action on how to care for it going forward regarding your space.
Types of Silver Maples
Like most trees today, the silver maple has had cultivars developed by horticulturalists to accentuate certain traits. Sadly these cultivars do not solve any of the wildtype's failings and address form or color. These cultivars are still worth looking at as they are attractive and unique.
Pruning
The major work of owning and caring for a silver maple comes from pruning. When first becoming established, the tree needs regular pruning by a certified arborist to train it to grow in the correct shape. Once established, yearly pruning is required to develop a strong tree.
Propagating Silver Maples
Though you could certainly try to grow a silver maple from a seed or through propagation, the easiest way to propagate silver maples is through the volunteer method. You will find that at least a dozen volunteer seedlings around your landscape from scattered samaras every year.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Numerous insects bother the silver maple, but none are serious enough to cause a health tree big worries. Luckily you can treat most of the pests with a chemical management solution. The most obvious insect is often the gall mite due to the growths or galls on the leaves that they leave in their wake.
How long does a silver maple tree live?
Growth is rapid in both pure and mixed stands, and the tree may live 130 years or more. The tree is useful in wet areas, transplants easily and can grow where few others can. It should be saved for planting in wet areas or where nothing else will thrive. Silver maple is cut and sold with red maple (A. rubrum) as soft maple lumber.
Where do silver maples grow?
It's is a medium-sized tree of short bole and quickly branching crown. Its natural habitat is along stream banks, floodplains, and lake edges where it grows best on better-drained, moist alluvial soils. Growth is rapid in both pure and mixed stands, and the tree may live 130 years or more. The tree is useful in wet areas, transplants easily and can grow where few others can. It should be saved for planting in wet areas or where nothing else will thrive. Silver maple is cut and sold with red maple (A. rubrum) as soft maple lumber. It's also often used as a shade tree for landscapes.
What causes red spots on maple leaves?
The crimson erineum mite is usually found on silver maple and causes the formation of red fuzzy patches on the lower leaf surfaces. The problem is not serious so control measures are not suggested. Aphids infest maples, usually Norway Maple, and may be numerous at times. High populations can cause leaf drop.
What is the gall mite on silver maple?
The galls are small but can be so numerous that individual leaves curl up. The most common gall is bladder gall mite found on silver maple.
Why does a silver maple leaf have a gall?
A leaf on a Silver Maple tree with Maple Bladder Gall which is caused by Eriophyid mites. skhoward/Getty Images. Trees are an essential part of the food chain for some insects and tree pests. And, just like most living creatures on planet Earth, trees are prone to diseases . Insects.
What kind of soil does silver maple grow in?
"Silver Maple will grow in areas which have standing water for several weeks at a time. It grows best on acid soil which remains moist, but adapts to very dry, alkaline soil.
What is the name of the tree that grows in Alabama?
Steve Nix is a member of the Society of American Foresters and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. The silver maple is one of America's favorite shade trees. It's planted all over the eastern United States.
How tall is a small maple tree?
Small Maple Trees. To be classified as a small tree, the mature height of a tree must be less than 30 feet. A number of maple species fall into this category. These include vine maple (Acer circinatum), a 15- to 20-foot tree that grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 6 to 9, as well as Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum), ...
How tall do red maple trees grow?
Medium-sized trees have a mature height between 30 and 50 feet. A few maple species fall into this category, including red snakebark maple (Acer capillipes), which reaches 30 to 35 feet and grows in zones 5 to 7. Another example is the 35-foot coliseum maple (Acer cappadocicum), which is suited to growing in zones 6 to 8. Both species are native to parts of Asia, but are widely grown in the United States.
What is maple tree?
Maples (Acer spp.) are a large group of trees that grow in a diverse range of climates and conditions. Hardiness also varies greatly, but species are available for almost any U.S Department of Agriculture hardiness zone.
Is maple a large tree?
Even maple species that are considered large trees in the wild tend to be much smaller when grown in a landscape setting.
How long does it take for a silver maple tree to grow?
That’s at least twice the size of a two-story house. A silver maple tree also grows about three to seven feet per year, meaning it would reach maturity in 6-13 years. It takes many other trees that long or even longer to reach maturity. Thus, those trees are often denser and sturdier than silver maples. The average silver maple lifespan can be ...
Why do people plant silver maple trees?
Why People Plant Silver Maple Trees. Besides its beauty, particularly when swaying in the wind, when people want to plant a tree that is likely to increase rapidly and provide shade or fill empty spaces , they often choose a silver maple. Another benefit of silver maple trees is their sap-producing capability, hence the “ saccharinum ” in its ...
How do silver maples get their name?
The silver maple ( acer saccharinum ), a species native to eastern North America, got its name because its leaves, which are green on top, are silvery-white on their undersides. Silver maples grow best in temperate northern and mid-southern climates in the U.S. and Canada. This tree reaches a height of 50–80 feet, with a spread of 35–50 feet when fully grown. That’s at least twice the size of a two-story house. A silver maple tree also grows about three to seven feet per year, meaning it would reach maturity in 6-13 years. It takes many other trees that long or even longer to reach maturity. Thus, those trees are often denser and sturdier than silver maples. The average silver maple lifespan can be over 130 years, but most only live to 35 years at maximum in an urban setting. The silver maple leaf has five points, like other maple species. However, these leaves are so pointed you would almost call them jagged. When leaf buds begin to develop in early spring, the silver maple also produces brilliantly-colored flowers that will turn into seed-dispersing “propellers.”
Do silver maples grow fast?
Do you have a silver maple tree in your yard? If you do, we’re guessing that you both admire the tree’s beauty and always worry about its health and any risks it poses for your home and neighbors who share the tree. Silver maples grow quickly, and this speed leaves them with slender, weak limbs that aren’t always able to support the weight of the leaves and branches that are attached to them or the snow and ice that land on them. In other words, they are fragile trees that need a lot of care.
When do silver maple leaves start to bloom?
However, these leaves are so pointed you would almost call them jagged. When leaf buds begin to develop in early spring, the silver maple also produces brilliantly-colored flowers that will turn into seed-dispersing “propellers.”.
Is silver maple syrup good?
The silver maple is not the best species for making syrup, though. These trees have thin, watery sap with relatively low sugar compared to some other maple species. Moreover, silver maples tend to get their leaves earlier than other maples, and once leaf buds start appearing, the sap’s flavor becomes unpleasant.
Can a silver maple tree hurt someone?
Caring for Your Silver Maple. Some people become so nervous beli eving their silver maple tree will hurt someone or cause property damage that they ask their tree specialists whether it needs to be taken down— a tough decision for all parties involved. The specialist will point to the greenness of the tree’s upper branches and say, “Look up there!
