Plant Details

Acer saccharum, Acer spp.

Sugar Maple, Florida Maple, Hard Maple, Rock Maple

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Acer saccharum, Acer spp..

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Common names

7 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Florida Maple
  • Hard Maple
  • Rock Maple
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Sugar Maple
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Esdoorn
  • Suikeresdoorn
French
  • Érable à sucre
Sources & name notes

Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

General information

Scientific name: Acer saccharum, Acer spp.
Botanical family: Sapindaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Acer (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Sugar Maple, Florida Maple, Hard Maple, Rock Maple

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 30.00 m
Spread: 12.00 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-8
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Inner bark, Sap, Seed, Sweetener
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Potassium accumulator, Wood, Carbon farming, Food forest, Companion plant

Description

The juice of this plant contains a high sugar content and can be processed into a drink or syrup by evaporating the water. The syrup is often used as a sweetener in many foods. The best time to harvest the juice is in late winter or early spring on a warm sunny day after a frost. Trees on southern slopes in sandy soil generally yield the best results. A hole about 7 cm deep and 1.3 meters above the ground is ideal. Each tree can yield between 40-100 liters of juice. The best sap production often comes from cold winter areas with a continental climate. The sap contains 2-6% sugar, which requires about 32 liters of sap to make one liter of maple syrup. The seeds of this plant can be eaten fresh or dried for later consumption. They can also be cooked. The wings of the seeds are removed, and then they are cooked and eaten warm in small clusters. The bark of the plant can also be cooked. Once it is dried and ground into powder, it can be used as a thickening agent in soups or mixed with grain when making bread.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/03
Harvest ends: 31/03

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 689168; name ID 2615354; Acer L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.