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|lifespan=perennial
|lifespan=perennial
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|exposure=sun
|exposure=sun, part-sun, shade
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|features=flowers
|features=deciduous
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring
|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
'''''Acer saccharum''''' ('''Sugar Maple''') is a species of [[maple]] native to the hardwood forests of northeastern [[North America]], from [[Nova Scotia]] west to [[Southern Ontario|southern]] [[Ontario]], and south to [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Texas]].<ref name=grin>Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?1227 ''Acer saccharum'']</ref>
'''''Acer saccharum''''' ('''Sugar Maple''') is a species of [[maple]] native to the hardwood forests of northeastern [[North America]], from [[Nova Scotia]] west to [[Southern Ontario|southern]] [[Ontario]], and south to [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Texas]].<ref name=grin>Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?1227 ''Acer saccharum'']</ref>
It is a [[deciduous]] [[tree]] normally reaching heights of 25–35 m (82–115 ft) tall,<ref name=nopd>Northern Ontario Plant Database: [http://www.northernontarioflora.ca/description.cfm?speciesid=1000053 ''Acer saccharum'']</ref><ref name=obs>Oklahoma Biological Survey: [http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/shrub/acsa3.htm ''Acer saccharum'']</ref> and exceptionally up to 45 m (150 feet).<ref>[http://www.nativetreesociety.org/fieldtrips/gsmnp/gsmnp_tall_trees.htm GSMNP tall trees<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> A 10-year-old tree is typically about 5 m (15 ft) tall.
It is a [[deciduous]] [[tree]] normally reaching heights of 25–35 m (82–115 ft) tall,<ref name=nopd>Northern Ontario Plant Database: [http://www.northernontarioflora.ca/description.cfm?speciesid=1000053 ''Acer saccharum'']</ref><ref name=obs>Oklahoma Biological Survey: [http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/shrub/acsa3.htm ''Acer saccharum'']</ref> and exceptionally up to 45 m (150 feet).<ref>[http://www.nativetreesociety.org/fieldtrips/gsmnp/gsmnp_tall_trees.htm GSMNP tall trees<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> A 10-year-old tree is typically about 5 m (15 ft) tall.
The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[deciduous]], 8–15 cm long and equally wide with five palmate lobes. The basal lobes are relatively small, while the upper lobes are larger and deeply notched. In contrast with the angular notching of the [[Silver Maple]], however, the notches tend to be rounded at their interior. The fall color is often spectacular, ranging from bright yellow through orange to fluorescent red-orange. Sugar maples also have a tendency to color unevenly in fall. In some trees, all colors above can be seen at the same time. There is also a tendency, as there is also with [[Red Maple]]s, for certain parts of a mature tree to change color weeks ahead of or behind the remainder of the tree. The leaf buds are pointy and brown colored. The recent years growth twigs are green, and turn dark brown.
The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[deciduous]], 8–15 cm long and equally wide with five palmate lobes. The basal lobes are relatively small, while the upper lobes are larger and deeply notched. In contrast with the angular notching of the [[Silver Maple]], however, the notches tend to be rounded at their interior. The fall color is often spectacular, ranging from bright yellow through orange to fluorescent red-orange. Sugar maples also have a tendency to color unevenly in fall. In some trees, all colors above can be seen at the same time. There is also a tendency, as there is also with [[Red Maple]]s, for certain parts of a mature tree to change color weeks ahead of or behind the remainder of the tree. The leaf buds are pointy and brown colored. The recent years growth twigs are green, and turn dark brown.
The [[flower]]s are in [[corymb]]s of 5-10 together, yellow-green and without petals; flowering occurs in early spring after 30-55 [[growing degree day]]s. The [[fruit]] is a double [[Samara (fruit)|samara]] with two winged [[seed]]s, the seeds are globose, 7–10 mm diameter, the wing 2–3 cm long. The seeds fall from the tree in autumn and remain viable for only a few days.<ref name="CopelandMcDonald2001">{{citation|author1=Lawrence O. Copeland|author2=M. B. McDonald|title=Principles of seed science and technology|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=cS6rfHocXg4C&pg=PA194|accessdate=25 September 2010|date=31 October 2001|publisher=Springer|isbn=9780792373223|pages=194–}}</ref>
The [[flower]]s are in [[corymb]]s of 5-10 together, yellow-green and without petals; flowering occurs in early spring after 30-55 [[growing degree day]]s. The [[fruit]] is a double [[Samara (fruit)|samara]] with two winged [[seed]]s, the seeds are globose, 7–10 mm diameter, the wing 2–3 cm long. The seeds fall from the tree in autumn and remain viable for only a few days.<ref name="CopelandMcDonald2001">{{citation|author1=Lawrence O. Copeland|author2=M. B. McDonald|title=Principles of seed science and technology|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=cS6rfHocXg4C&pg=PA194|accessdate=25 September 2010|date=31 October 2001|publisher=Springer|isbn=9780792373223|pages=194–}}</ref>
It is closely related to the [[Black Maple]], which is sometimes included in this species but sometimes separated as ''Acer nigrum''. The western American [[Bigtooth Maple]] (''Acer grandidentatum'') is also treated as a variety or subspecies of Sugar Maple by some botanists.
It is closely related to the [[Black Maple]], which is sometimes included in this species but sometimes separated as ''Acer nigrum''. The western American [[Bigtooth Maple]] (''Acer grandidentatum'') is also treated as a variety or subspecies of Sugar Maple by some botanists.