Acer saccharum

Temperature is VERY important for sugar maples. These maples will only germinate in temps just above freezing- above 50 F is too warm! Periods of freezing and thawing are also essential for sap production, learn about that here from the Michigan Maple Syrup Association.

Sugar maple is one of the main maples used for production. Sap collection goes way back to Native Americans, before the pilgrims. Here’s one view on what that process may have looked like.

In the Eastern US and Canada sugar maples are a main part of hardwood forests. Going south, they are found in ravines and moist flatlands. Moist, cool, and flat is ideal! Go here for info about range/climate.

Sugar maple has close relatives that were (are??) considered varieties or subspecies of A. saccharum, inc. black, chalk, and Florida, and Mexican maples. There might be even more undescribed species lurking within A. saccharum: See A. saccharum var. schneckii! See them here:

Keep on the lookout, sugar maple (right) is often confused with the non-native Norway maple (Acer platanoides)(left)! Go here to learn how you can distinguish the two.