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Southern Sugar Maple

Acer floridanum

Other common name(s):

Caddo Maple, Florida Maple, Rock Maple

Family:

Sapindaceae (Soapberry Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

20
to
100
ft.

Spread

12
to
60
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Rich, Well Drained, Moist

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow, Green

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Small Mammals

Maintenance

This small, spreading tree is easy to grow. It is resistant to ice and wind storms. Tolerates drought and occasionally wet soil. It is not salt tolerant. Flowers and lawns do not grow well beneath this tree. Use as a specimen, shade tree, street tree or woodland garden. Beautiful yellow to orange colors in the fall. Native habitat: streams and river banks. Propagation: Seed.

Comments

Smaller Southern version of the Sugar Maple. Lobed leaves are green above, paler and fuzzy below. Inconspicuous, small, yellow flowers hang in clusters. Winged fruit called samaras. Used as a food source and shelter for birds and small mammals.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Acer barbatum, Acer barbatum var. longii, Acer barbatum var. villipes, Acer floridanum var. longii, Acer floridanum var. villipes, Acer nigrum var. floridanum, Acer saccharinum var. floridanum, Acer saccharum ssp. floridanum, Acer saccharum var. floridanum, Saccharodendron barbatum, Saccharodendron floridanum

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=22729&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Acer+floridanum&formsubmit=Search+Terms 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ACFL 5) Wasowski, Sally and Wasowski, Andy, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region, 1988, 1991, pg 330. 6) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=183691#null, 8) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/acer-saccharum-subsp-floridanum/

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Contact a local Chapter

State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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