Sugar maple Acer saccharum
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is a deciduous perennial tree in the Sapindaceae family, native to Eastern North America. It grows 15–25 m (49–82 ft) tall and 10–16 m (33–52 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -37 °C (-35 °F). Space plants about 12 m (39 ft) apart.
Plan Sugar maple in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Sugar maple at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Sapindaceae |
| Mature height | 15–25 m (49–82 ft) |
| Mature spread | 10–16 m (33–52 ft) |
| Spacing | 12 m (39 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -37 °C (-35 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 32 °C (90 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: sap (maple syrup) |
| Native to | Eastern North America |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇨🇦 Canada |
Is Sugar maple toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not considered toxic to people, cats or dogs (wilted red maple leaves are a horse hazard).
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Sugar maple
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Keep apart or take care
- caution With Norway maple: Maples share Verticillium wilt, a soil-borne fungus that persists for years; replanting a susceptible maple where an infected one died risks reinfection. Evidence B
Shared pests and diseases
- Verticillium wilt: Verticillium lives in soil for years; hosts planted together or in sequence build it up. Evidence B
See Sugar maple in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (4 plants)
Questions about Sugar maple
- How far apart should I plant Sugar maple?
- About 12 m (39 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 10–16 m (33–52 ft).
- Does Sugar maple need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Sugar maple need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Sugar maple?
- It tolerates about -37 °C (-35 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
- When does Sugar maple flower?
- From about April for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Sugar maple poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not considered toxic to people, cats or dogs (wilted red maple leaves are a horse hazard).
- What grows well with Sugar maple?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Sugar maple. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
- USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Dislikes road salt, compacted soil, drought and heat; best in cool-summer climates.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- Red maple Acer rubrum
- Lychee Litchi chinensis
- Longan Dimocarpus longan
- Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum
- Norway maple Acer platanoides
- Field maple Acer campestre
- Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum