Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

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Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

Sugar Maple is a large tree, fairly common in the Mountains of North Carolina, rare as a native in the Piedmont (where generally associated with diabase sills or other areas with basic bedrock), and also a rare escape from cultivation in the Piedmont. It is also commonly planted throughout the state because of its brilliant fall colors and attractive form.

Emerging leaves.

Penny's Bend, Durham Co., NC 4/11/09.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaves

The leaves often have reddish petioles.

Granville Co., NC 5/25/09.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

Caswell Co., NC 5/30/10.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

Leaf undersides are glaucous and usually completely hairless.

Caswell Co., NC 5/30/10.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

Another example from the upper Piedmont.

Uwharrie River slopes, Montgomery Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

Uwharrie River slopes, Montgomery Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

Uwharrie River slopes, Montgomery Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

Sugar Maple is much more common in the Mountain region of NC.

Madison Co., NC 5/11/08.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

Granville Co., NC 4/27/08.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

The leaves are similar to those of the Southern Sugar Maple (Acer floridanum), but average larger and undersides are either glabrous (smooth) or pubescent only on the veins.

Granville Co., NC 4/27/08.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

Granville Co., NC 4/27/08.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

Detail of leaf underside, which is glaucous (whitened) and glabrous (hairless). The very similar Black Maple (Acer nigrum), rare in the Mountains, has yellowish-green pubescent leaf undersides.

Granville Co., NC 4/27/08.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

Typical glaucous and glabrous leaf underside.

Granville Co., NC 5/25/09.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) buds

Branch detail.

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) leaf

Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) bark

The bark of young trees is smooth, but it is broken into plates on older trees.

Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) bark

Bark of a small tree.

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) bark

Bark of a medium-sized tree.

Uwharrie River slopes, Montgomery Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) bark

Bark of a large tree.

Granville Co., NC 4/27/08.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) bark

Bark of another large tree.

Penny's Bend, Durham Co., NC 4/11/09.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) bark

Penny's Bend, Durham Co., NC 4/11/09.

More information:
Bioimages
NC State
USDA Silvics Manual
U Connecticut
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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