Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
A large, fast-growing deciduous tree featuring deeply lobed leaves with silvery-white undersides and serrated margins.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Prefers consistently moist soil; tolerates temporary flooding but requires regular watering during dry spells to maintain foliage health
- Growth
- Large deciduous tree with an upright, spreading, and often open crown, reaching mature heights of 50 to 80 feet with a fast growth rate
Care instructions
Provide full sun to partial shade and consistently moist, well-draining soil. Water regularly during establishment and periods of extended drought, and apply a balanced fertilizer in spring if growth is slow.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Prefers consistently moist soil; tolerates temporary flooding but requires regular watering during dry spells to maintain foliage health
Soil
Adaptable to various soil types including clay, loam, and sand, but thrives best in moist, slightly acidic to neutral soils with good drainage
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 3 through 9
Growth habit
Large deciduous tree with an upright, spreading, and often open crown, reaching mature heights of 50 to 80 feet with a fast growth rate
Bloom season
Blooms in early spring before leaf emergence, producing small, inconspicuous greenish-red flowers without petals
Propagation
Propagated primarily from fresh seeds that mature in late spring, or through softwood cuttings taken in early summer
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to wind damage due to weak wood, chlorosis in alkaline soils, and pests such as aphids and scale insects
Similar species
Red Maple (Acer rubrum), which has shallower leaf sinuses and whitish-to-pinkish undersides, and Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), which has U-shaped leaf sinuses and smooth-edged lobes