Native Maple Trees In Minnesota (4 Types You Must Know)
Minnesota’s forests are breathtaking, especially in autumn when the leaves change color, creating a stunning display of red, orange, and gold. Maple trees are among the native trees that contribute to this breathtaking scenery.
For centuries, these majestic trees have been an important part of Minnesota’s landscape, providing both beauty and practical benefits. Maple trees have a special place in Minnesota’s natural heritage, from the sweet sap harvested in the spring to the colorful foliage that decorates the forests in the fall.
In this article, we’ll look into the fascinating world of native maple trees in Minnesota and learn more about their identification, unique traits, habitats, and range.
1. Red Maple
- Common Name: Red Maple
- Scientific Name: Acer rubrum
- Mature Height: 40 to 65 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native to the Eastern half of the United States
- Flowers/Cones: Winged seeds that are red, reddish-brown, or yellow
- Uses: Used in the manufacture of cheap furniture, woodenware, and fuel; bark is sometimes used in dyeing
The Red Maple trees are the most common maple trees in Minnesota. It is a lovely medium-sized shade tree that can reach 65 feet in height with a diameter of 10 inches to 2 feet.
On the stem, the leaves are opposite and have 3 to 5 pointed saw-toothed lobes separated by sharp angular holes. When mature, the upper side of the leaf is light green, while the under surface is whitish and partly covered with pale down. The Red Maple is the first maple to turn color in the fall, with magnificent colors of red, orange, and yellow.
The bark on young stems is smooth and light grey, but it becomes rough and dark grey on old limbs and trunks, giving the tree a shaggy appearance.
The Red Maple bears fruit in the form of pairs of winged seeds in late spring or early summer. These seeds can grow to be 1 inch long and are red, reddish-brown, or yellow.
The Red Maple is endemic to the eastern half of the United States and can be found in Minnesota as far south as Houston County and west to a line extending south from Mahnomen to Redwood Falls.
The wood of the Red Maple is heavy, close-grained, weak, and light brown. It has limited commercial value, although it is used to make low-cost furniture, woodware, and fuel.
The bark is occasionally used in dyeing. Because of its shape and gorgeous foliage colors, the Red Maple is also an important ornamental tree.
2. Sugar Maple
- Common name: Sugar Maple
- Scientific name: Acer saccharum
- Mature height: 80 feet or more
- Native/Non-native: Native to North America
- Flowers/Cones: Produces winged seeds
- Uses: Used for wood, maple syrup, and ornamental plantings
The Sugar Maple is a magnificent tree that can reach heights of 80 feet or more! It has a 2-foot diameter trunk with a flawlessly symmetrical crown that provides shade from the sun beneath it.
A juvenile Sugar Maple tree’s bark is light grey to brown and smooth, but as it grows older, it becomes grey to almost black with uneven plates and scales. Winter buds are sharply pointed and reddish-brown.
Sugar Maple leaves are one-of-a-kind. They feature 3 to 5 pointed, smooth-edged lobes and are 3 to 5 inches wide. A rounded divide separates the lobes, and the upper surface is dark green while the lower surface is paler. The leaves develop magnificent hues of dark crimson, scarlet, orange, or yellow in the autumn.
Sugar Maple produces winged seeds approximately an inch long that are easily carried by the wind. These trees thrive in cold, fertile environments in the eastern portion of North America. Sugar Maple wood is light brown, strong, hefty, and close-grained.
It is commercially known as hard or rock maple and is used to make flooring, furniture, and a variety of minor goods. Sugar Maples are also necessary for the production of delicious maple syrup and maple sugar. Finally, because they are a magnificent tree species, they are widely used in ornamental plantings.
3. Boxelder Maple
- Common Name: Box Elder
- Scientific Name: Acer Negundo
- Mature Height: 30 to 60 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Winged fruit similar to sugar maple
- Uses: Occasionally used for fuel
Box Elder trees are one of the most commonly found maple trees in Minnesota and most states in the United States. This tree can reach heights of 30 to 60 feet and a diameter of 18 inches.
The limbs and branches of Box Elder are brittle, and the tree is vulnerable to insect and fungus disease attacks. On young branches, the bark is smooth and green, but on older trees, the bark is thin, grayish to light brown, and extensively split.
Box Elder leaves are often complex, with three to seven leaflets. They are smooth, brilliant green, and arranged in opposite directions on the stem. Leaflets range in length from 2 to 4 inches and width from 1 to 2 inches.
The Box Elder bears winged fruit that resembles but is smaller than that of the sugar maple. The fruit ripens in late summer or early fall and frequently remains on the trees all winter. Although grazing and agriculture damage many young trees, this fast-growing tree reproduces abundantly. It is a resilient tree that can flourish in harsh conditions.
Box Elder wood is creamy white, delicate, light, and close-grained. It degrades quickly when exposed to heat and moisture, however, and it is only rarely used as a fuel.
4. Silver Maple
- Common Name: Silver Maple
- Scientific Name: Acer saccharinum
- Mature Height: 100 feet or more
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Winged seeds on thread-like stems
- Uses: Shade and ornamental tree, occasional flooring and furniture material, fuel
The Silver Maple is a magnificent tree that can grow to heights of more than 100 feet and it is one of the tallest maple trees in Minnesota. It has a thick, strong trunk and several long branches that stretch upward and then droop at the tips.
The leaves of the Silver Maple are bright green and shaped like hands with 3 to 5 fingers, each finger ending in a long tip with serrated edges. The tops of the leaves are pale green, with silvery undersides. Silver Maple buds are reddish-brown and spherical.
Older branches have darker grey bark that splits into long flakes or scales, whereas younger branches have smooth, reddish to yellow-grey bark.
The tree produces a pair of winged seeds about 1 to 2 inches long on flexible stems about an inch tall.
The Silver Maple is a Native American tree that can be found throughout the country. Because of its height and attractive leaves, it is a popular shade and ornamental tree.
Although its wood is light brown, sturdy, and easy to work with, it is not suitable for construction since it decays quickly when exposed to weather or soil. However, it is also used for flooring, furniture, and gasoline on occasion.
For commercial purposes, some people combine the wood with Red Maple.
Maple Trees In Minnesota – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Let’s go through some of the most frequently asked questions related to native maple trees in Minnesota and surrounding regions.
Are there any maple trees in Minnesota?
There are 4 types of native maple trees in Minnesota including everyone’s favorite sugar maple, red maple, silver maple, and boxelder maple.
Where can maple trees be found in Minnesota?
Maple trees can be found throughout Minnesota, but they are most common in the state’s northern and eastern regions. In Minnesota, the sugar maple is the most common species, but other species such as red maple and silver maple can also be found. The North Shore, the Lake Superior region, and the St. Croix River Valley are all known for their maple trees.
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Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.
- Minnesota’s Native Trees, Department Of Natural Sciences, Minnesota State.
- Forestry Division, Minnesota State.
- Yard And Garden, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Native Plants, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Select Trees And Shrubs For Minnesota Landscapes, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Trees and shrubs for pollinators, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Department Of Agriculture, Minnesota State.
