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Silver Maple - 100 Most Common North American Trees

By Steve Nix, About.com

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Introduction To Silver Maple

Silver Maple Leaf

Silver Maple Leaf

Steve Nix/ About.com
Silver maple is one of America's favorite shade trees and planted all over the eastern United States. Surprisingly, it also is a ragged tree when mature and is not a spectacular looking maple in autumn. Because it is a fast grower people tend to ignore the flaws and embrace its quick shade.
Acer saccharinum is a medium-sized tree of short bole and quickly branching crown. It is naturally found on stream banks, flood plains, and lake edges where it grows best on better-drained, moist alluvial soils. Growth is rapid in both pure and mixed stands and the tree may live 130 years or more.
The tree is useful in wet areas, transplants easily and can grow where few others can. It should be saved for planting in wet areas or where nothing else will thrive.

Start with the Tree Finder if you are not sure what kind of tree you have!
The Silviculture of Silver Maple

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