// SPECIES PROFILE · TREE · NATIVE EAST OF TULSA · RANGE-EDGE

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum

Sugar Maple is the iconic shade tree of the northeastern hardwood forest — the source of maple syrup, the holder of the most spectacular yellow-orange-scarlet fall color in North America, and a slow-growing climax-forest dominant. NE Oklahoma sits at the southwestern range edge: native populations cling to the cool, moist ravines of the Ozarks and Ouachitas, but typical sugar maples planted in open Tulsa landscapes routinely scorch and decline. The regional answer is the heat-adapted 'Caddo' sugar maple selected from a relict population in Caddo County, OK — the only sugar maple form truly suited to NE Oklahoma yards.

// QUICK FACTS

Family: Sapindaceae (formerly Aceraceae)
Group: Deciduous canopy tree
Native range: SE Canada & E US, range edge through Ozarks/Ouachitas into E OK
OK status: Native in eastern OK ravines · struggles in open landscapes
USDA hardiness: Zones 3–8 ('Caddo' to zone 8b)
Mature size: 50–80 ft tall × 30–50 ft wide
Crown form: Dense oval-rounded
Lifespan: 200–400 yrs
Sun: Full sun to part shade (very shade-tolerant when young)
Soil: Deep, well-drained, slightly acidic loam — intolerant of compaction
Water: Moisture-loving; declines in extended drought
Bloom: March–April, before leaf-out (yellow-green)
Fall color: Yellow → orange → scarlet (variable, vivid)
Wildlife value: Sap, seeds, browse · cavity-nest tree at maturity
Caddo selection: Heat-, drought-, & pest-tolerant OK ecotype

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) showing brilliant orange and scarlet fall color — *Acer saccharum* in peak autumn color — the gold standard of eastern hardwood fall display. Photo via Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons.

Identification

[ field key — opposite simple lobed leaf · smooth then ridged bark · paired samaras · U-shaped sinuses ]

Habit & bark

Long-lived deciduous tree with a single straight trunk and a dense, oval to broadly rounded crown. Young bark is smooth, gray, often with light vertical fissures; mature bark develops long, irregular, vertical plates that curl outward at the edges — a strong field mark distinguishing old sugar maples from the smoother, lighter bark of red maple (A. rubrum). Twigs are slender, reddish-brown, with sharply pointed conical brown buds in opposite arrangement.

Leaves

The classic "maple leaf" of the Canadian flag. Opposite, simple, palmately five-lobed, 3–6 in long and wide, with smooth-margined lobes separated by deep, broadly U-shaped sinuses (not jagged teeth as in red maple, not blunt-tipped as in Norway maple, not silvery-undersided as in silver maple). Summer color is medium green above, paler beneath. Fall color is the showpiece: an unpredictable mix of clear yellow, orange, and scarlet across the same canopy — sometimes one branch yellow and the next branch red.

Flowers & fruit

Small, yellow-green, drooping flowers in long-stalked clusters appear in March–April with or just before leaf-out — one of the earliest spring nectar sources in eastern hardwood forests. The fruit is the iconic paired samara ("helicopter" key); the two wings of A. saccharum are nearly parallel (forming a horseshoe shape), distinguishing it from red and silver maple, where the wings spread more widely. Samaras ripen September–October and disperse on autumn winds.

Lookalikes & subspecies

Most often confused with black maple (A. saccharum subsp. nigrum, sometimes A. nigrum) which has 3-lobed leaves with droopy margins, and the introduced Norway maple (A. platanoides — broader leaves, milky sap when broken, pale yellow fall color, invasive in the NE US). Native red maple (A. rubrum) has serrated lobes and smaller leaves. The southern segregate Florida sugar maple / chalk maple (A. saccharum subsp. floridanum) occurs in the SE US and is closely related to the OK 'Caddo' sugar maple, a heat-adapted ecotype native to a single relict population on the Caddo Canyons of southwestern Oklahoma.

Habitat & Range in NE Oklahoma

Sugar maple's primary range covers the cool, mesic hardwood forests of southern Canada, the Great Lakes, New England, the Appalachians, and the central hardwoods south to the Ozark plateaus of N Arkansas, SW Missouri, and northeastern Oklahoma. NE Oklahoma sits at the species' southwestern range limit. Native populations cling to cool, north-facing, moist ravines and seepy slopes in the Ozarks of Adair, Cherokee, and Delaware counties, in the Ouachita National Forest, and on sheltered drainages in the wider eastern OK hardwoods. Outside those microclimates, the native range simply ends — the heat, summer drought, and high evaporative demand of the Cross Timbers and tallgrass prairie are beyond what typical northern provenances can sustain.

For NE Oklahoma landscapes west of the Ozark escarpment — including most of greater Tulsa, Bartlesville, Pawhuska, and Stillwater — standard sugar maple is a problematic landscape choice. Trees from northern seed sources scorch by midsummer, develop chronic chlorosis on the alkaline soils common in the Tulsa area, and decline within 10–25 years from cumulative drought stress. The exception is the 'Caddo' sugar maple, an OK-relict ecotype from the granite-floored canyons of Caddo County (in SW OK) discovered by horticulturist Earl Cully and others in the mid-20th century. Caddo maples display markedly better heat tolerance, drought tolerance, and resistance to the chronic leaf scorch and tar spot that plague non-adapted forms in the southern Plains. The 'Autumn Splendor', 'John Pair', and 'Caddo' (cultivar name) selections all trace back to this relict Oklahoma population and are the recommended forms for Tulsa-area planting.

Ecology & Wildlife Value

[ shade-tolerant climax tree · sap nectar · cavity nesters · saccharine cycle ]

Forest community role

Sugar maple is one of the most shade-tolerant climax canopy trees of the eastern hardwood forest — saplings can survive decades in deep understory shade, then surge upward when an adjacent canopy gap opens. In old-growth Ozark and Ouachita ravine forests it co-dominates with white oak, American basswood, hop hornbeam, and eastern hophornbeam, often forming the majority of saplings in the understory. Its dense canopy and acidic leaf litter create a distinctive woodland ground flora dominated by spring ephemerals (trout lily, wild ginger, Dutchman's breeches, bloodroot).

Wildlife & pollinators

Early spring flowers provide one of the season's earliest nectar and pollen flows for emerging native bees (Andrena, Bombus queens) and honey bees. Yellow-bellied sapsuckers drill horizontal sap-well rows on sugar maple trunks, and the resulting sap drips support spring-arriving warblers, ruby-throated hummingbirds, and butterflies (mourning cloak, Compton tortoiseshell). Samaras are eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, evening grosbeaks, and finches; twigs and foliage are browsed by deer. Mature trees develop cavities used by woodpeckers, owls, and raccoons.

Lepidoptera hosts

Native maples in the genus Acer support over 250 species of Lepidoptera in eastern North America (per Doug Tallamy's host-plant database) — including the spectacular cecropia, luna, and polyphemus giant silkmoths, the rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda), and numerous geometrid and noctuid moths. Among NE Oklahoma trees, sugar maple is one of the higher-value Lepidoptera hosts where it can be grown.

Pests & stressors

On non-adapted seed sources in NE Oklahoma, sugar maple suffers from leaf scorch (browning of leaf margins from cumulative summer water deficit), tar spot (Rhytisma fungi — cosmetic), iron and manganese chlorosis on alkaline urban soils, verticillium wilt, and aphid honeydew issues. Forest tent caterpillar and gypsy moth defoliations affect northern populations but are less of an issue in OK. Summer drought stress predisposes urban trees to Armillaria root rot and gradual canopy decline.

The "wrong sugar maple" problem in Tulsa: Big-box garden centers routinely sell northern-provenance sugar maples (often labeled simply 'October Glory' or 'Green Mountain') that perform brilliantly in Vermont, tolerably in Kansas City, and poorly in Tulsa — with chronic scorch, chlorosis, and a 10–20 year decline trajectory. Always specify 'Caddo', 'Autumn Splendor', or 'John Pair' when planting in our region. If those are unavailable, choose a different fall-color tree entirely — Shumard oak, blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), or sweetgum give comparable autumn color with vastly better heat tolerance.

Climate change and the southern range edge: USFS and Penn State research projects model the southern range edge of typical sugar maple retreating northeastward over the 21st century as summer heat and drought intensify. The Caddo ecotype, with its built-in heat tolerance, is one of the most important genetic resources for southern-Plains arboriculture going forward. Several arboreta (including the Botanic Garden in OKC and Tulsa Botanic Garden) maintain Caddo-source breeding collections.

Horticulture & Care

[ siting · the Caddo solution · mulch · pruning · long-term care ]

When to plant intentionally

Sugar maple is the right choice for large residential lots, parks, campuses, and estate plantings with deep, moist, well-drained soil and adequate root run — but only as a Caddo-derived selection in our climate, and only on suitable sites. It is the wrong tree for street tree-pit plantings, hellstrips, west-facing parking-lot islands, compacted urban sites, and anywhere with a high water table or salt exposure. Pair with an understory of native spring ephemerals, wild ginger, Christmas fern, and black cohosh for an authentic eastern hardwood vignette.

Planting & establishment

Season: fall is best in NE Oklahoma; early spring also works. Avoid summer planting.
Sun: full sun for best fall color; tolerates significant shade, especially when young.
Soil: deep, slightly acidic to neutral, well-drained loam — the absolute opposite of compacted urban clay. Will not tolerate poor drainage or alkaline pH above ~7.5 (chronic chlorosis).
Hole: 2–3× rootball width, no deeper than the rootball. Backfill with native soil; do not amend.
Spacing: 40–60 ft from buildings, walks, and other large trees.
Water: deep weekly soaks during the entire first three growing seasons; supplemental water during droughts for the rest of the tree's life. Sugar maple is not drought-proof in our climate.
Mulch: 3–4 in deep, 4–6 ft diameter wood-chip ring. Refresh annually. Mulch matters more for sugar maple than for almost any other tree we plant in NE Oklahoma — it moderates root-zone temperature and moisture.
Fertilizer: none normally needed; if chlorosis appears, apply chelated iron and consider gradual sulfur amendment to lower pH.

Pruning

Sugar maple has strong central-leader habit and rarely needs structural pruning if properly young-tree-trained. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late winter (Feb–early Mar); avoid spring pruning when sap flow is heavy — pruning then causes prolonged "bleeding" that, while not actually harmful to the tree, looks alarming and is unsightly.

Pests & diseases

Leaf scorch — the dominant problem on non-adapted seed sources in NE Oklahoma; mitigate with deep mulch, supplemental water, and Caddo-source planting.
Tar spot (Rhytisma acerinum, R. punctatum) — black tar-like spots on summer leaves; cosmetic only.
Verticillium wilt — serious, sometimes lethal; avoid planting where solanaceous crops or other susceptible species have grown.
Iron / manganese chlorosis on alkaline urban soils.
Aphids and honeydew in mid-summer — control biologically.
Squirrels chewing bark on young trees — protect trunks until bark thickens.

Notable selections for NE Oklahoma

Cultivar	Provenance	Distinguishing feature	Notes for Tulsa
'Caddo'	Caddo Co., OK relict	Heat- & drought-tolerant, glossy leaves	The recommended sugar maple for NE OK. Yellow-orange-red fall color, smaller stature than northern types.
'John Pair'	Caddo-derived (KSU)	Bred at Kansas State for southern Plains heat	Excellent symmetrical form, brilliant orange-red fall color, durable in Tulsa.
'Autumn Splendor'	Caddo-derived	Glossy dark green leaves, vivid red-orange fall	Strong central leader, oval crown, performs well in OK.
'Flashfire'	Caddo-derived	Earlier & more uniform red fall color	Good urban performance; somewhat more available than older Caddo selections.
'Legacy'	Northern source (S.W. Princeton)	Glossy, leathery leaves, drought-tolerant for a northern type	Better than most northern selections in OK but still inferior to Caddo lines.
'Green Mountain'	Vermont/New England	Premier northeastern landscape form	Avoid in NE OK — chronic scorch and decline.

Note: 'October Glory' and 'Red Sunset' are cultivars of the unrelated red maple (Acer rubrum), not sugar maple, though they are often shelved together.

Cultural & Material Uses

Sugar maple is unique among North American trees in being the source of an entire commercial commodity industry — maple syrup — and one of the foundational hardwoods of the cabinet, flooring, and musical-instrument trades.

Maple syrup & sugar: Sugar maple sap contains 2–3% sucrose by weight (vs. ~1% in red and silver maples), and it takes roughly 40 gallons of sap to produce 1 gallon of syrup. Sap flows in late winter (typically late Feb to late March) when daytime temperatures rise above freezing while nights remain below — a pressure cycle pumping sap from roots to crown. Indigenous peoples of the eastern woodlands (Anishinaabe / Ojibwe, Algonquin, Haudenosaunee / Iroquois) tapped sugar maples for centuries before European contact; European settlers adopted and industrialized the practice. Sugar maple is not commercially tapped in OK — the southern range edge means insufficient cold to produce reliable sap flows, and stand density is too low.
Hardwood lumber: The wood of sugar maple ("hard maple", "rock maple") is a premier American hardwood — dense, hard, fine-grained, pale cream to light reddish-brown. Standard uses include: cutting boards and butcher blocks, bowling alleys and basketball courts (NBA hardwood), cabinet and furniture making, flooring, baseball bats (since the early 2000s, displacing white ash), and tool handles.
Musical instruments: Sugar maple is the standard back, sides, and neck wood of violins, violas, cellos, and double basses; the rims and shells of high-end drum kits; and the neck of nearly every Fender electric guitar. Particularly figured forms ("flame", "quilted", "birdseye") command very high prices.
Indigenous cultural significance: Beyond syrup-making, sugar maple holds deep cultural significance for many eastern Indigenous nations — the Ojibwe ricing-sugaring spring camp tradition, Haudenosaunee creation stories featuring the maple, and the syrup-making Ziisbaakdokewin ceremony. The maple leaf on the Canadian flag honors this cultural and economic centrality.
Fall-tourism economy: "Leaf peeping" tourism in the northeastern US and southern Canada centers on sugar maple's autumn color and is a multi-billion-dollar regional industry. NE Oklahoma's own modest fall-color season in the Ozarks (Tahlequah, Tenkiller, Beavers Bend) leans heavily on sugar maple, blackgum, sweetgum, and Shumard oak.
Fuelwood & charcoal: Hard maple burns hot and clean with high BTU content per cord; historically used for charcoal and potash production in eastern hardwood regions.
State tree designation: Sugar maple is the state tree of New York, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, and the national tree of Canada — the most widely-honored single tree species in North America.

Sources & Further Reading

USDA NRCS PLANTS Database — Acer saccharum: plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/ACSA3
USDA Forest Service Silvics of North America, Vol. 2 (Hardwoods) — Godman, R.M., Yawney, H.W. & Tubbs, C.H. (1990), Acer saccharum: srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654 — acer/saccharum
USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) — Acer saccharum: fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/acesac
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center — Acer saccharum: wildflower.org — ACSA3
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Acer saccharum cultivar profiles, including 'Caddo' and 'Autumn Splendor'.
Pair, J.C. — Caddo Maple: A Promising Tree for the Southern Plains, John C. Pair Horticultural Center, Kansas State University.
Cully, E. — original 1960s–70s observations on the Caddo County, OK relict sugar maple population.
Oklahoma Forestry Services — native trees of eastern OK fact sheets and tree-recommendation lists.
OSU Extension — Trees for Northeastern Oklahoma Landscapes (HLA series): siting and species notes for sugar maple.
Iverson, L.R. & Prasad, A.M. (USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station) — Climate Change Tree Atlas projections for Acer saccharum range shifts.
Wikipedia — Acer saccharum: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_saccharum (CC BY-SA 4.0; portions of the description, syrup, and uses sections summarize Wikipedia content).

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons contributors under their respective licenses (linked in caption).

Sugar Maple

Identification

Habit & bark

Leaves

Flowers & fruit

Lookalikes & subspecies

Habitat & Range in NE Oklahoma

Ecology & Wildlife Value

Forest community role

Wildlife & pollinators

Lepidoptera hosts

Pests & stressors

Horticulture & Care

When to plant intentionally

Planting & establishment

Pruning

Pests & diseases

Notable selections for NE Oklahoma

Cultural & Material Uses

Sources & Further Reading

Companion Planting