Acer saccharum
Sugar maple is an incredibly important tree commercially, culturally, and ecologically. As the name suggests, it is one of the primary trees involved in the production of maple syrup. The sap is drained from a spigot and then boiled until only a sticky, sweet syrup is left. This process is difficult to do in the South and primarily occurs in colder environments, due to the species requiring a hard freeze for proper dormancy and seed germination. Its leaves are some of the showiest in the autumn, ranging in color from gold to crimson. Additionally, there is an abundance of wildlife species that rely on sugar maple as a food source, whether it be its saplings in the case of deer and porcupines or its sap for birds. Sugar maple is also the larval host plant for two known moth species: Cecropia silk moth (Hyalophora cecropia) and rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda).
Family: Sapindaceae (formerly Aceraceae)
Foliage: Deciduous
Mature height range: 80-120 ft. (sometimes taller)
Light exposure: Full Sun, Partial Shade to Full Shade
Soil preference: Moist but well-drained
Tolerance: Among the most shade tolerant of deciduous trees and can tolerate a variety of different soil types
Wildlife: browsing by game and small mammals, sap-eating by birds, pollinated by insects, host plant for Cecropia silk moth (Hyalophora cecropia) and rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda)
