The leaf buds are pointy and brown-colored. They also share a tendency with red maples for certain parts of a mature tree to change color weeks ahead of or behind the remainder of the tree. In some trees, all colors above can be seen at the same time. Sugar maples also have a tendency to color unevenly in fall. The fall color is often spectacular, ranging from bright yellow on some trees through orange to fluorescent red-orange on others. In contrast with the angular notching of the silver maple, however, the notches tend to be rounded at their interior. The basal lobes are relatively small, while the upper lobes are larger and deeply notched. The leaves are deciduous, up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long and wide, palmate, with five lobes and borne in opposite pairs.

As with most trees, forest-grown sugar maples form a much taller trunk and narrower canopy than open-growth ones. A 10-year-old tree is typically about 5 m (20 ft) tall. Īcer saccharum is a deciduous tree normally reaching heights of 25–35 m (80–115 ft), and exceptionally up to 45 m (150 ft). It may also be known as 'rock maple', 'sugar tree', 'birds-eye maple', 'sweet maple', 'curly maple', or 'hard maple', particularly when referring to the wood. Sugar maple is best known for being the primary source of maple syrup and for its brightly colored fall foliage. It is native to the hardwood forests of eastern Canada and eastern United States. Saccharodendron saccharum (Marshall) MoldenkeĪcer saccharum, the sugar maple, is a species of flowering plant in the soapberry and lychee family Sapindaceae.

Sugar maple leaf