Also called Ninaatik (in
Anishinaabemowin
). A tree with 🌳︎ broadleaves arranged ╫ opposite, blade division=🍁︎ simple, margin=♧ lobed, 3–7 main leaf veins radiating from 🍁︎ one point (✋︎ palmate), sinuses=∪ rounded (U-shaped), base=∪ rounded, width=length.
Very similar to the
◼︎ 🍁︎ black maple Acer nigrum
(in the 🍬︎🍁︎ sugar maple, it is easier to see the 4th and 5th lobe), some authors consider them to be the same species, just different populations.
Together, sugar and black maples are also called rock maple or
hard maple.
Part of
🍁︎ maple genus Acer
(without leaves, with lateral buds protected by 3+ scales),
in
soapberry family Sapindaceae
in
cashew / 🌰︎ chestnut / 🍊︎ citrus / 🍁︎ maple order Sapindales.
Native to the hardwood forests of 🇨🇦 Canada from the Great Lakes to the Maritimes, and the 🇺🇸 USA from central states to the Great Lakes and Atlantic Coast.
🗺 Map by county (🇺🇸 USA-48),
🗺 map (North America, Central America), 
🗺 today + with climate change (eastern 🇺🇸 USA).
🌳︎ State tree of Wisconsin, New York, Vermont and West Virginia.
Uses by native peoples
(Ethnobotany database)
Its 🪵 wood is made into hardwood floors and furniture (and formerly, old-time spools and bobbins). If the wood is burled or bird's-eye, it is used to make 🎸︎ guitar necks.
Sugar and black maple are tapped to make great maple syrup (zhiiwaagamizigan in
Anishinaabemowin
) and maple sugar (ziinzibaakwad). We know of a 🏫︎ Middle School, with a very special teacher, whose 🏞 Environmental Club funds their activities by tapping trees near their 🏫︎ school, boiling down the sap, and packaging and selling their maple syrup (zhiiwaagamizigan)!
Acer hosts caterpillars of 285 species
of butterflies and moths, in some areas.
This plant is also known to be a host for (in areas where invasive)
🐝︎ spotted lanternfly (SLF) Lycorma delicatula.
4 leaves connect at a point. Bright red in fall — we love them!
Planting info (SW Michigan).