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Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum

  • Fast-Growing Tree
  • Green Leaves with Silvery-White Underside
  • Tolerates a Wide Range of Soils
  • Grows 50' to 80' with 35' to 50' Spread
  • Zones 3 to 9
  • Can't Ship To: AK, AZ, HI
Guaranteed Healthy Delivery
Item # 1036 | Shipping Height: 3' - 4'
*Mem. Price:$4.98
Reg. Price:$8.00
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Zones 3 - 9
Zones 3 - 9

Hardiness Zones: Zones 3 - 9
The Silver Maple can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map.VIEW MAP

shade tree
shade tree

Type of tree:
The Silver Maple falls into the following type(s): Shade Trees

50' - 80' High
50' - 80' High

Mature Height:
The Silver Maple grows to be 50' - 80' feet in height.

35' - 50' Spread
35' - 50' Spread

Mature Spread:
The Silver Maple has a spread of about 35' - 50' at full maturity.

Fast Growth
Fast Growth

Growth Rate:
This tree grows at a fast growth rate. [More about this.]

Multiple Exposures
Multiple Exposures

Sun:
This maple does well in full sun, partial shade.

Various Soils
Various Soils

Soil:
Tolerant of wide range of soil types, but prefers deep, moist, acid sites

Vase Shape
Vase Shape

Shape:
This maple has vase shape.

More Info
More Info

Attributes:
The Silver Maple takes it's name from the silvery-white undersides of the leaves that tend to shimmer and dance in the slightest breeze. Other attributes that make it a popular tree are it's tolerance to urban conditions such as poor and compacted soil, hot, dry conditions, and air pollution. It is also popular due to it's rapid growth.

Wildlife Value:
The buds of the Silver Maple are eaten by squirrels in early spring. It also provides nesting sites for ducks and other birds. Beavers find the trees delicious.

History/Lore/Use:
Early settlers in the Ohio Valley found the sap from the Silver Maple to be superior to other Maple trees for sugar quality but production was too slow for commercial purposes. The tree has always been a delight to forest-watchers as the slightest breeze will turn the tree into a shimmering silver-green color display and the bark has a silver look to it in the winter that contrasts nicely with snow.

Moisture:
Wide range of moisture conditions. Can withstand some flooding and has moderate drought tolerance.

Leaves:
Leaves are opposite on twigs, 3 to 6 inches in both length and width, with 5 lobes separated by notably deep, narrow sinuses. Green on top and silver-green on the bottom.

Flower Color:
The bloom is yellow-red.

Bloom Time:
Early to mid-March..

Fruit Description:
The fruit is elongated, 1-2 inches long, green to brown in color.

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. Plant 10' or more from sidewalk or drive. Grows to 50' to 80' with spread 2/3 of height to wider than the tree is tall. (zones 3-9)

Arborday.org Hardiness Zone Map
Spring Shipping Fall Shipping
Color Zone Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline 		Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline
  2 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  3 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  4 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  5 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  6 03/19–05/12 05/07 11/01–12/03 11/19
  7 03/11–05/07 04/30 11/05–12/10 11/26
  8 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  9 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  10 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AZ, HI , territories, or countries outside the U.S. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it at one half the original price, plus shipping and handling.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

  Standard Dwarf
  Mature
Height		 Space
Needed		 Mature
Height		 Space
Needed
Apple 20' - 25' 35' x 35'

10' **

 10' x 10' ++
Peach 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
Sweet Cherry 30' 20' x 25' 12' - 15' 10' x 10'
Sour Cherry 20' 20' x 20' 8' 10' x 10'
Pear 20' 20' x 20' 12' - 15' 12' x 12'
Apricot 20' 20' x 20'    
Plum 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
      ** semi-dwarf 12' - 15'
++ semi-dwarf 12' x 12'

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

  • They are very affordable.
  • Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.
  • They are easy to plant at the correct depth.

The Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University has an interesting article about the benefits of planting natural root trees. Look for the PDF entitled Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method

Potted (also called containerized) trees come in 4" containers.


If you have questions, please call (888) 448-7337 or E-mail Member Services.