Tennessee Smart Yards Native Plants
A comprehensive database of Tennessee native plants
Sugar Maple, Rock Maple, Hard Maple
Sugar Maple, Rock Maple, Hard MapleAcer saccharum ssp. saccharum (A. saccharum)Full sun to light shade; medium moisture level; soils include coarse to medium loamy sands, sandy loams, loams and occasionally silt loams; slightly acid to neutral pH.60-80 feet height by 25-50 feet spread; inconspicuous greenish yellow flowers in April before the leaves emerge; seeds are paired, brown-tan samaras, 1 to 1 ¾ inch long in September.Growth Rate: Slow; possibly medium in youth.Maintenance: Frequent disease and insect problems; infrequent wind and ice damage due to very strong wood.Propagation: Seed germination code C (70) at 41 degrees F. Easy from seed. Best to gather seed directly from the tree because seeds lose viability quickly and are easily infested by insects.Native Region: StatewideOne of the best of the larger shade and lawn trees. Spectacular shades of yellow, orange and red leaves in fall. Lives 75-150 years, frequently reaching 200 years. Avoid planting in areas that are droughty, have high urban pollution or salt, and small areas too restricted for adequate growth. Leaf scorch can be a serious problem caused by excessive drought. Many cultivars available.Very high wildlife value. Attracts birds, bees and mammals. Special value to honey bees.tree;sun;medium;loam |
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Tennessee Smart Yards Native Plants 
Last summer my husband and I moved and bought a house with two very large sugar maples in the front yard. Since I am trying to convert lawn to a plant community around and under the maples, I am learning how difficult this task is. First, whatever source originally indicated poor seed germination is simply incorrect. Maple tree seeds germinate just fine by the hundreds on the ground no matter where they land….in the shade under shrubs (even deep shade) or out in the middle of mowed lawn. Fortunately seed production goes in cycles, with heavy production every 2 to 5 years, depending on which source you read. There is no means of getting rid of all the seedlings short of hand weeding or mowing down. I did read that both asters and goldenrod give off chemicals which can interfere with maple seed germination. I will see if that is correct. I also read that sugar maples are slightly allelopathic which could mean it is harder to grow anything underneath them, but so far that does not seem to true for me.