In the Carolinas and Georgia, maple trees decorate lawns and woodlands with gorgeous fall color. The ones that grab your attention are most likely Red Maple or Southern Sugar Maple.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is a native, deciduous tree that reaches average heights of 50-60 feet. It prefers moist, acidic soil and full sun to part shade. Avoid alkaline soils. It is a fast grower that makes a good choice for establishing shade at new homes where developers removed all vegetation. Hardy in zones 2-9, Red Maple is one of the earlier trees to begin showing fall color. Despite the common name, autumn leaves can be red or yellow. It is more heat tolerant than Northern Sugar Maple.
Northern Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) is the tree that New Englanders tap for sweet sap that is processed into delicious maple syrup. It will survive in zones 3-8, but struggles in the heat of the deep South. A better choice for the southeast is Southern Sugar Maple, Acer saccharum subspecies floridanum. Southern Sugar Maples grow in zones 6-9, and reach heights of 70 feet. They do not grow as quickly as Red Maples, but still fast enough to make them a good choice for an urban or suburban garden, providing there is adequate lawn space and sufficient moisture. Fall color is mostly orange but can also be yellow or red.
When shopping for a Southern Sugar Maple, check plant tags carefully. Acer saccharinum is not the same as Acer saccharum. The former is Silver Maple, a tree known for its rapid growth. Unfortunately, it is brittle and short-lived. Mature specimens commonly sustain limb damage in storms. Fall color is disappointing when compared with Red Maple or Southern Sugar Maple.
It is not always possible to detect the provenance of maples found in a garden center or nursery. Southern gardeners should seek out trees that were grown by southeastern or southern growers. Our northern neighbors should try to find trees from northern sources. Trees that are sourced from opposite growing areas may not survive.
Maples have fun seeds, called samaras, with a peculiar winged shape that makes them twirl to the ground like tiny helicopters. Great fun for kids, but can also mean lots of seedlings to be removed by the gardener. It is difficult to grow anything under maples because they cast deep shade, but also because their numerous shallow roots make it difficult to dig a planting hole underneath their canopies. Those roots suck lots of moisture, which compounds the problem. Consider a skirt of mulch or a shallow-rooted groundcover like Creeping Sedum. Plant them away from sidewalks and patios to avoid cracks/heaving caused by their surface roots.
I have focused on fall leaf color, but one of my favorite things about maple trees comes in the earliest spring. When other trees have not begun to unfurl new leaves, the tiny blooms of maple trees make their bare branches take on a red appearance, especially when seen at a distance. In woods full of gray, leafless companions, these harbingers of spring are eye-catching.
Maples provide food and shelter for pollinators and small mammals.
