Silver maple | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Soapberry (formerly Maple)
Family (botanic) Sapindaceae (formerly Aceraceae)
Planting site Restricted sites
Tree or plant type Tree
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale Chicago area, Illinois, North America
Size range Large tree (more than 40 feet)
Mature height 50-70 feet
Mature width 30-50 feet
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil, Wet soil
Tolerances Alkaline soil, clay soil, Occasional drought, Occasional flooding, Wet sites
Flower color and fragrance Inconspicuous
Shape or form Broad, Irregular, Upright
Growth rate Fast
Transplants well Yes
Planting considerations Aggressive, Commonly planted, Highly susceptible to ice damage, Messy fruit/plant parts, Roots prone to invading sewer pipes, Weak wood and branch structure
Wildlife Game birds, Small mammals, Songbirds
Has cultivars Yes

Native geographic location and habitat:

Native throughout most of the eastern United States. Typically found growing in wet bottomlands. C-Value: 0

Bark color and texture:

Young bark is smooth and gray and develops long, wide strips that turn upward at the ends as the tree age.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

Simple, opposite leaves are medium green, about 3 to 6 inches long, five-lobed, with silvery underside. Leaves are green in summer, turning yellow-green in fall.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

Small, greenish-yellow to red flowers do not have petals and are fairly inconspicuous.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

Fruit are winged seeds in pairs (samaras), about 2 inches long.

Plant care:

Without proper and frequent pruning, high winds and ice can cause limbs to break. Prune in summer to avoid ‘bleeding’ when pruned during dormancy or in spring. Drought sensitive, so provide supplemental water in dry periods.

Silver maple may be weedy, spreading many seedlings in lawns and gardens. Weak-wooded and prone to storm damage. Has a vigorous root system that can invade sewer pipes. Many authorities recommend against planting silver maple.