Maple 'Silver'
Maple 'Silver'

Maple 'Silver'

Scott's Nursery Ltd.

$29.99
Title

Add a sense of dynamic movement and rapid transformation to your yard with the Silver Maple. This towering beauty is named for the distinctive silvery-white undersides of its leaves, which flash brilliantly in even the lightest breeze. Its graceful, arching branches form a massive, open canopy that provides generous, dappled shade in record time. With its shaggy, silver-grey bark and elegant, deeply lobed leaves, it creates a majestic, almost ancient presence that anchors any large-scale landscape.
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Plant Details

Mature Size:

80' H x 50' W

Zone:

3-9

Watering:

Medium to High

Foliage Type:

Deciduous

Growth Rate:

Very Fast

Light:

Full Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Silver Maple, Soft Maple, White Maple, Creek Maple, Water Maple, Swamp Maple

Scientific Name:

Acer saccharinum

Type:

Native Ornamental Shade Tree

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: 50–80 feet tall with a 35–70 foot spread (occasionally reaching 100 feet).
  • Growth Habit/Form: Upright with long, curving branches forming a rounded or oval crown.
  • Growth Rate: Very Fast.
  • Longevity: Shorter than other maples, typically living around 100–130 years.

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade.
  • Soil Preferences: Flourishes in moist, well-drained loams but is highly adaptable to clay, sand, and poorly drained sites.
  • Soil Tolerance: Extremely high; can handle occasional flooding and urban stressors.
  • Watering: High initial needs; prefers consistent moisture but is moderately drought-tolerant when mature.

Special Features:

Fast Growing; Flood Tolerant; Urban Tough; Native Species.
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom: Tiny, reddish-yellow flower clusters appear in late winter or early spring before the leaves.
  • Fall Colour: Usually a soft yellow to pale gold.
  • Bark: Smooth and gray when young, becoming shaggy with long, thin flaky scales in maturity.
  • Fruit: Pairs of large, winged "samaras" (maple keys) that ripen in late spring

Garden Value:

A powerful choice for large lawns, riparian areas, or difficult sites where quick shade and erosion control are needed. Its resilience makes it ideal for reclaiming poor or waterlogged soils.

Wildlife & Human Value:

  • Wildlife Value: Provides critical early-season pollen for bees; seeds are a food source for squirrels and songbirds.
  • Human Value: Provides rapid, dense shade; sap can be boiled into a light, delicate syrup. 

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

  • Best Time: Early spring or fall.
  • Spacing: Provide at least 50 feet of space to accommodate its massive mature spread.
  • Location Tips: Avoid planting near sidewalks, driveways, or sewer lines, as its aggressive, shallow root system can cause damage.

Care:

  • Light Requirements: Thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade.
  • Moisture Requirements: Prefers moist to wet soils but is surprisingly adaptable once established.
  • Maintenance: Regularly prune to remove weak or damaged limbs, as its rapid growth can lead to brittle wood over time.
  • Fertilization: Generally unnecessary in average soil, though a balanced fertilizer can be applied in early spring for young trees.

Tolerances:

Wet soil, flooding, urban pollution, and varying soil pH.

Tips For Success:

Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and protect shallow roots from mower damage. Pruning young trees for a strong central leader can help prevent future storm damage.
Fruit Profile