Silver Maple

Height:	60' to 90' (50' at age 30)
Width:	50' to 80' (45' at age 30)
Hardiness Zone:	3 to 9
Crown:	Broadly ovate, irregular, medium-coarse texture
Foliage:	3" to 6", silvery beneath, yellow in fall
Flowers:	Greenish or reddish yellow
Fruit:	Large samaras in late spring, large crops in most years
Description:	A fast growing tree subject to breakage because of the branch structure. It is held in disfavor by municipal arborists and utility foresters. Native to wet or moist sites throughout much of eastern North America. Smooth gray bark becomes scaly when older.
Advantages:	Widely adaptable but useful only on spacious sites where maintenance problems can be accommodated. Makes an impact on the landscape within a few years after planting.
Limitations:	Vigorous growth and storm breakage lead to high maintenance costs for trimming and cleanup. Mature trees may be very costly to remove due to large size of trunk. Susceptible but seldom severely damaged by many diseases and insects, including anthracnose, leafspots, cankers, trunk decay, leaf-feeding insects, borers and physiological disorders. Surface roots may damage sidewalks and sewers. Sometimes chlorotic on calcareous soils. Seedlings can be a nuisance.
Site and Culture:	One of the easiest species to grow on many soil types, but avoid high pH. Tolerates adverse urban conditions. Timely and frequent pruning is needed to develop strong branch structure. Keep away from sidewalks and jointed pipes.
Cultivars:	Several cultivars of this species such as 'Silver Queen' and 'Skinner's Cutleaf', and hybrids (Acer x freemanii) with red maple, have been selected for improving branching habit. These deserve to be tried on spacious sites away from utility lines.
Notes:	Some municipalities prohibit the planting of the species as a street tree.
Tree Location:	South Park, North Park