Common Name: Silver Maple

Scientific Name: Acer saccharinum

Family: Sapindaceae

Type: Deciduous

Habitat: Woodlands, Floodplains, Along Streams or Rivers

Native: Yes

Height: Up to 80 feet

Light: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Moist, Well drained

Description: The Silver Maple, which is named after the silver underside of its leaves, is a native deciduous tree that can grow up to 80 feet tall. The Silver Maple is also known as the River Maple, the Swamp Maple, or the Water Maple because of its tendency to grow in wet habitats such as moist woodlands, floodplains, or along streams or rivers. The Silver Maple can be distinguished from other maples because of its leaves which have silver undersides and deeply indented lobes which are green in the spring and summer and turn yellow, orange, or red in the fall. Although the Silver Maple can quickly grow up to 80 feet tall, it tends to grow shallow roots, which can lead to breakage. This photo of a Silver Maple was taken behind the Mahan Manor next to the athletic fields at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve.