Southern sugar maple is a deciduous tree in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae) and is native to NC and much of the southeast and west to TX. It is found in rich bottomland of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains. It may grow from 20 to 60 feet tall with a 25-40 foot spread and a rounded to oval crown with good density. This tree is easy to grow in full sun to partial shade in fertile acidic well-drained soils but tolerates a wide range of conditions. Drought tolerant once established but is not salt tolerant. Southern sugar maple has shallowly lobed leaves that turn red, yellow and orange in the fall. The limbs are strong and don't easily break in high winds. Inconspicuous, small, yellow flowers mature in spring followed by winged samaras. Use as a specimen, shade tree, street tree or woodland garden. It is a good specimen to plant in hurricane-prone areas due to its strong limbs and smaller size. Quick ID Hints : Leaves 3-5 lobed, entire Leaf outline a house-shape Leaves whitish, some pubescence below Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to aphids, borers and scale. Occasionally has problems with verticillium wilt, anthracnose, cankers, leaf spot, and tar spot. Leaf scorch may be a problem in drought conditions. It has been frequently used as a street tree, but is generally intolerant of road salt, soil compaction, and pollution. See potential insect and disease problem fact sheets to the left. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests. More information on Acer .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
24-60 feet; more than 60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in. | Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Oval; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Cordate; Orbicular
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The opposite simple leaves are 1.5-3.5 inches long and wide with entire margins. They have 3-5 rounded lobes and whitish undersides that are often fuzzy with hairs. The petioles can be reddish. The fall color is spectacular in orange, red and yellows.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Small inconspicuous flowers appear in April hang from a long hanging (1 - 2") stalk in clusters of a few flowers. Regular, pentamerous in racemes, corymbs or umbels. In North Carolina, the flowers are available from April to May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Two-winged samara 3/4" long wings spreading downward at 60-70 degree angle. Matures mid to late summer; June to October in North Carolina.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Light gray with thick irregular ridges, becoming plated when aged.
Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. The Southern sugar maple flowers are visited by pollinators and seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals. Early spring source of nectar for bees. Nesting site for squires who also consume seeds as food source.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Moths; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Native Americans taught the early colonists how to tap these trees to make maple syrup which has now become a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S. and Canada. Can be used as a bonsai and ornamental shade trees.