Discover easy tips to spot the difference between red, sugar, and silver maple trees — and avoid confusing them with lookalikes like boxelders!
Is that a red maple? A sugar maple? Maple trees are beloved for their gorgeous fall colors, but there are a few species that are easily confused. With a few hints, you can quickly learn how to identify the different types of maple trees and avoid tapping that box elder in your backyard!
How To Identify a Maple Tree
Maple trees belong to the genus Acer, and there are quite a few of them. In fact, there are 13 species of maple trees native to North America. However, nurseries have sold hundreds of cultivars through selective breeding of those 13 natives, and some imported species, as shade trees for yards.
When learning how to identify a maple tree, remember to start with the leaves. You can then use those trees to learn the branches, twigs, bark, flowers/seeds, and shapes.
Maple leaves have a very distinct look. The leaves are pointed and resemble hands. They are also arranged oppositely on the branches and on a single stem (not in clusters) as seen in the example picture below.
Maple trees have individual leaves supported by thin, delicate twigs. They do not have dense clusters of leaves or thick twigs, as you’d find in an ash tree. In winter, you can check the branching arrangement to narrow it down quickly. They have lighter-colored wood and a familiar “tree” shape.
The branches come in opposite pairs, as shown in the picture above. When you see one branch, there will be a partner on the other side of the trunk or a bigger branch. Maples are deciduous trees, which means that they lose their leaves for part of the year, unlike evergreens. Most deciduous trees have alternate branches, which means they take turns, and not opposite.
In the spring, look for the “helicopters” that fly off the maple trees. They have a V-shaped form with wings on both sides, with seed pods in the middle. These seeds are called “samaras.”
Finally, the bark of a maple tree is light grey and smooth. As it ages, the bark breaks into fissures called “shaggy.” They’re not even ridges but more similar to the way pottery will break.
Types of Maple Trees
Identifying the exact cultivar of an ornamental maple tree variety is almost impossible, but you can still narrow it down to the correct species. While there are 13 native maple species in North America, not all are located together. There may be only two or three natives in your area, making the task more manageable.
There are three varieties that are common, yet often confused: red maples, sugar maples, and silver maples. If you can learn to recognize the differences between these species, then others, like the big-leaf maple of the Pacific Northwest, or the Japanese maple, are easier to spot. Other trees in the maple family that aren’t true maples, like a boxelder, will be a breeze to recognize!
| Feature | Red Maple (Acer rubrum) | Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) | Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf Shape | 3–5 lobes, serrated (toothed) edges | 5 lobes, smooth edges | 5 deeply cut lobes, very pointed tips |
| Leaf Color (Fall) | Bright red, sometimes orange/yellow | Deep orange, crimson, occasionally yellow | Pale yellow, gold, sometimes salmon |
| Twig Color | Bright red to brown | Reddish brown | Grayish brown |
| Bark | Smooth on young trees; develops ridges/furrows | Tight, ridged, tight on mature trees | Gray, loose, shaggy texture |
| Growth Rate | Fast | Moderate to slow | Very fast |
| Preferred Habitat | Varied soils, tolerates wet areas | Upland, well-drained soil | Lowlands, near creeks and wetlands |
| Seed (Samara) | V-shaped wings, red stems | V-shaped wings, brownish stems | V-shaped wings, pale green silvery backs |
| Common Size | 40–60 ft tall | 40–50 ft tall | Can be very large, trunk > 2 ft diameter |
| Other Notes | Early fall color change; bark sometimes striped | Long-lived, dense shade tree | Prone to dropping branches in storms |
1. Red Maples
Perhaps the showiest of the maples, Acer rubrum, is one of the earliest trees to change color in the fall and might be the brightest. In nature, red maples are found in many soil types and locations and tolerate wetter conditions than some other maples. They are commonly mistaken for sugar maples; many are tapped every year, whether intentionally or by mistake.
Rapid-growing and colorful red maples have become a favorite yard tree, and many varieties are available. When planted as ornamentals, these trees typically reach 40 to 60 feet tall. Although they often spread a bit less than sugar and silver maples, they still attain that classic lollipop shape.
Fall foliage is often fire-truck red but can sometimes take an orange or yellow tint. Spring flowers and new growth are red as well. Red maple bark is smooth on young trees, then develops into longer furrows and ridges, sometimes giving it a striped look. The leaves are a giveaway–the margins (the edge of the leaf) will have small serrations like a saw tooth. Sugar maple margins are smooth.
2. Sugar Maples
Bring on the flapjacks! Sugar maples, Acer saccharum, are long-lived, moderate to slow-growing trees. In the forest, they are upland trees, preferring loamy soil with good drainage. They are shade-tolerant but will enjoy a sunny spot in your yard.
Sugar maple twigs are reddish brown, and the bark on mature trees is ridged and tight. The favorite shade tree for yards, sugar maples will eventually spread as wide as 40-50 feet when planted in the open, and their crowns are dense and shady. Choose a sugar maple if you want to plant a tree that may still be there in three hundred years.
Their fall color is usually a deep orange, with some variations to dark salmon and crimson. Occasionally, these trees will take on a golden-yellow autumn color. Summer leaves are as deep green as you could wish for. If you have an upland maple with brownish twigs and smooth leaf margins, sugar maple is a good bet.
3. Silver Maples
These large and rapidly growing trees are found in lowland areas in the wild. They prefer moist, rich soil and can attain giant size, with trunks larger than 2 feet in diameter not uncommon. Look for them along creeks and rivers, in floodplains, and at the edge of swamps and marshy ground.
Silver maples, Acer saccharinum, have the same palmate (hand-shaped) leaf as other maples but are much more sharply pointed and deeply indented. The backside of the leaves is a pale silvery-green, hence the name. Fall color is often a pale yellow but can range to gold and hints of salmon depending on location and weather. The bark on mature trees is gray and has a loose or shaggy look.
Silver maples have been planted extensively as shade trees in yards and parks, but can be a nuisance. However, they are majestic trees, and their rapid growth and ease of planting make them a popular choice for quick shade and cover.
Like many fast-growing trees, they are prone to extensive storm damage and will drop twigs and small branches even in modest winds. Keep silver maples away from septic fields and pavement. Their roots commonly heave sidewalks and driveways.
Maple Tree Identification FAQs
How can I tell if a tree is a maple tree?
Maple trees have distinctive palmate (hand-shaped) leaves with 3 to 5 lobes, arranged oppositely on branches. Look for “helicopter” seeds (samaras) and opposite branching as key identifiers.
What are the main differences between red maple, sugar maple, and silver maple?
Red maples have serrated leaf edges and bright red fall colors; sugar maples have smooth leaf edges and deep orange to crimson fall colors; silver maples have deeply cut, sharply pointed leaves with silvery undersides and pale yellow fall colors.
Can I make maple syrup from any maple tree?
Yes! You can make maple syrup from any maple tree with a trunk at least 10 inches in diameter at chest height, though sugar maples are preferred for their sweeter sap.
Where do silver maples typically grow?
Silver maples favor moist, rich soils in lowland areas like riverbanks, floodplains, and swamps.
Why do silver maple branches often break in storms?
Silver maples grow quickly but have weaker wood, making them prone to branch breakage during wind or storms.
What should I avoid confusing with maple trees?
Box elder trees look similar but aren’t true maples. Maple leaves grow oppositely on the branch, while box elder leaves grow alternately.
How do I identify a sugar maple tree?
Sugar maples have smooth leaf edges, reddish-brown twigs, ridged bark on mature trees, and their fall colors range from deep orange to crimson.
What is the best time of year to identify maple trees?
Fall is ideal due to the bright, distinct leaf colors. Spring is also helpful when the “helicopter” seeds appear.
Walk outside and look for gorgeous maple trees. You’ll soon be able to tell the difference between these three common maples. To explore a complete list of the hundreds of maple trees, Virginia Tech’s Dendrology Database is a great place to start.
Plus, remember: You can make maple syrup from any type of maple tree as long as the trunk is 10 inches in diameter at chest height!
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