7 Fascinating Maple Tree Facts You Should Know

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An Invasive Maple Came to the U.S. Centuries Ago

Norway maple leaf, maple tree facts — Norway Maple leaf

Norway maple, classified as highly invasive in the United States, was first imported from Europe and Asia in 1756 as an ornamental landscaping tree.

Is an Amur maple shrub invasive?

It Takes Lots of Sap to Make Maple Syrup

Maple Syrup, hummingbird mixture — Maple syrup bottles

It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. Sugar maples are the biggest sap producers, so they are favored by maple sugar makers. Depending on the soil, climate and its genetics, a maple tree needs to be about 10 inches in diameter before it will produce enough sap to make syrup.

Psst—here’s why you need an oak tree in your backyard.

Maple Trees Grow Taller Than You Think

vibrant autumn maple tree, country road and Vermont countryside — Sugar maple tree with fall foliage in Vermont

Some sugar maple trees can grow up to 150 feet tall! Most, according to the New England Forestry Foundation, reach heights of between 80 and 100 feet.

Check out the top 10 fast-growing trees you can add to your yard.

There Are Many Maple Species in the World

248217846 1 Matthew Montonini Bnbhc20, maple tree facts — Rufous hummingbird in a Japanese maple tree

There are 132 species of maple trees in the world, mostly native to Asia. In North America, you’ll find 13 native species of maple trees. Red maples are the most widespread, and silver maples are a common choice for planting, too.

Maple Trees Can Live Hundreds of Years

Silver Maple Leaf (Acer saccharinum) — Silver maple tree leaf

Long-lived hardwoods, some maple trees in North America are over 300 years old. Red maples, however, have an average lifespan of 80 to 100 years, while certain silver maple trees can live to be 130.

Psst—avoid these trees you should never grow in your yard.

Maple Trees Are Widespread

Red Maple Tree in Sleeping Bear Dunes — Red maple tree at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

Maple trees have the longest continuous range of any tree in North America, spanning 1,900 miles up the East Coast. They can grow at elevations from sea level up to 3,000 feet.

Red Maples Can Withstand Extreme Cold

Canadian flag on blue sky — Canadian flag

Red maples tolerate the widest range of climatic conditions of any maple. They can tolerate temperatures down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes the maple leaf a perfect choice for the Canadian flag—and Canada is the only country to feature the maple leaf on its flag.

Done reading maple tree facts? Next, learn fascinating facts about conifer trees.

Sources

New England Forestry Foundation, “Meet the Sugar Maple“
Nashville Tree Conservation Corps, “How Many Kinds of Maple Trees Are There?“
National Wildlife Federation, “Red Maple“
Forestwildlife.org
USDA.gov, “Red Maple“

Originally Published: September 06, 2024

Author

Lisa Ballard

Contributor Lisa Ballard is a professional freelance writer and photographer who has covered birds and other wildlife since 1991. Her work appears regularly in numerous regional and national magazines and websites. Birds are one of two passions in her life. The other is skiing, maybe because going fast over the snow feels like flying!

Reviewer

Melinda Myers

Melinda Myers is a nationally known, award-winning garden expert, speaker, TV/radio host and author of more than 20 books. She is the instructor for The Great Courses How to Grow Anything DVD and Instant Video series and host of the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moments TV and Radio segments. With a master’s degree in horticulture and ...

Fact Checker

Kirsten Schrader

Now Birds & Blooms' content director, Kirsten has been writing about birding and gardening for 17 years. Her writing and editing roles have spanned the print and digital landscape. Although she has traveled to see amazing birds throughout the U.S., Kirsten has one dream bucket list bird—the male painted bunting.