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Quick Facts

Type: Tree
Native Range: Eastern North America
Native Status in NY: Native
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Medium to Moist, Well-Drained
Height: 60–80 ft
Bloom Time: March–April (flowers)
Flower Color: Greenish-Yellow
Spacing: 25–40 ft
Deer Resistance: Moderate
Pollinator Value: Moderate (early-season nectar)

Description

Sugar Maple is a native deciduous tree with a rounded, dense canopy and smooth gray bark that matures to darker, fissured bark. Its small greenish-yellow flowers appear in early spring, attracting early pollinators before leaf emergence. The tree produces winged seeds (samaras) that feed birds and small mammals. Sugar Maple is widely recognized for its brilliant orange to red fall foliage and its importance as a food and habitat source for wildlife. It thrives in rich, well-drained soils and is ideal for native plant gardens, woodlands, and shade plantings.

Ecological Benefits 🐝

Wildlife Value

Provides early-season nectar for pollinators

Seeds (samaras) feed birds and small mammals

Supports beneficial insects

Provides canopy and shade for wildlife

Adds structure to woodland ecosystems

Known Associations

Bumblebees (early flowers)

Sweat bees

Leafcutter bees

Songbirds (finches, sparrows)

Squirrels and chipmunks (seeds)

Beneficial insects

Garden Uses

Native plant gardens

Woodland gardens

Shade tree for yards and parks

Wildlife-supportive plantings

Urban and suburban landscaping

Rain gardens with good drainage

Why We Grow It

We grow Sugar Maple because it is an iconic native tree that provides early nectar for pollinators, food for wildlife, and brilliant fall color. Its adaptability to sun and shade and importance to native ecosystems make it an excellent choice for New York landscapes.