Maple syrup is one of Canada’s most iconic sweet treats, loved for its unique flavour and natural origin. However,...
Recognize the different types of maple
There are three categories of maples according to their origin: American maple (we are talking about Canadian maple in particular in this article), European maple, Eastern maple, the most famous of which is Japanese maple. You will learn about the different types of maple in each category after reading.
American maples
The American maple is native to East and North America. It is very popular in Canada. To live, it needs very fertile soil, allowing the roots to develop and nourish themselves in depth, without being exposed to direct sunlight. It does not resist under the effect of pollution, but supports conditions at altitude up to 1000 m.
Canadian maples
sugar maple or Acer saccharum is the best known species in Canada, it is found in the eastern region of this country and plays an important economic and ecological role.
Round-leaved maple or Acer circinatum
Acer circinatum is a small tree. It has leaves with 7 to 9 lobes. In autumn, the latter turn bright red or golden. Their white flowers grow in clusters, wings of samaras, regularly spaced.
Dwarf maple or Douglas maple or Acer glabrum
The leaves of this shrub have three to five lobes. In autumn, the latter turn yellow or red. The flowers are yellowish-green in color, which grow in clusters, samara wings, having the shape V.
Bigleaf maple or Acer macrophyllum
This type of maple is a large, spreading tree. Its leaves are very wide and turn dark green. These have five lobes, turning golden yellow in the fall. The yellowish flowers develop in clusters that hang down, hairy samaras whose wings are spaced from each other at an angle of 45°.
Box elder or Giguère or Acer negundo
It is a small, well-spreading tree, the leaves of which consist of 3 to 7 leaflets. These turn yellow in autumn. The whitish flowers are devoid of petals. They grow in dense clusters, wings of V-shaped samaras.
Black maple or Acer nigrum
Acer nigrum is a medium-sized tree with a dense crown. The leaves are long and composed of three-lobed stems, the lower part of the blade being hairy. These turn orange or yellow-brown in the fall season. The yellowish-green flowers develop in hanging clusters, wings of samaras separated slightly by an angle.
Barred maple or Acer pensylvanicum
Barred maple is a small, shrub-like tree. Its bark is covered with vertically arranged stripes. While the leaves have a size well above the average and three small lobes. Their color turns golden yellow in the fall. The pale yellow colored flowers grow in drooping clusters. The wings of the samaras separate at an angle of approximately 145°.
Red maple or Acer rubrum
It is a medium sized tree. The length of its leaves can reach up to 15 cm. They are equipped with 3 to 5 lobes in the form of small teeth. In the fall, their color and that of the flowers turn bright red. The wings of the samaras are separated from each other by an angle of approximately 60°.
Sugar maple or Acer saccharum
Acer saccharum is a large tree with a straight trunk. Its leaves consist of five pointed lobes, their color in autumn is bright red. The small flowers feature long, bell-shaped stems. The cluster samaras are more or less divergent, and their wings are U-shaped.
Silver maple or Acer saccharinum
Silver maple is a medium-sized spreading tree. Its trunk is short and its height can reach up to 35 m. Its leaves are highly lobed, the lower part is silvery-white in color, while the upper part is pale green. In the fall, their color becomes brown or yellowish. The flowers grow in dense clusters, very large samaras, with wings that measure up to 5 cm.
Japanese maples
Japanese maples, known as Acer palmatum or japonicum grow under the trees of the forests of Japan, which are characterized by strong winds, a humid climate and frequent rains. Their flowers grow slowly and turn into winged fruits or samaras. Although they are recognized by their hardiness, they cannot withstand the frosts of the spring season. Below are the main categories of Japanese maples.
cutleaf maples
Their foliage is delicately chiselled, they are highly sought after given their delicacy and elegance.
Maples with green leaves
Although their foliage is webbed, this has seven to eleven lobes of green color. In autumn, it becomes flamboyant.
Maples with purple foliage
They are the most popular of Japanese maples with cutout foliage. The colors vary according to the varieties.
Maples with golden or variegated foliage
These varieties of maples are extraordinary with their green foliage, edged in white. In summer, it is golden in summer season and flamboyant in spring.
Maples with attractive young wood
They are also known as Senkaki. They are very attractive in the winter season because the young shoots take on amazing bright color.
European maples
Maples of European origin are trees, used to adorn a place or square. In the fall, most begin to turn yellow, orange, or reddish in color before dropping their leaves. European maples are distinguished by their charm. Below you will find the seven European maples with their own distinctive elements and names.
Acer campestre
It is a deciduous tree that is also known as field maple, wild maple or minor maple. Its height can reach 10 m. Its leaves consist of three or five lobes of glaucous color with the lower part a little tomentose.
Acer monspessulanum
Its height is 15 m. The leaves have three dark green lobes. It withstands temperatures down to -18°C.
here are the other types of European maples.
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Reconnaître les érables plantés dans le jardin de la maison que j'ai acheté
By: Sensebe christine On 11/04/2023Bonjour,
pourriez vous m'aider à reconnaître le type d''érable plantés dans le jardin de ma maison. Ils datent de 25 ans.. comme ils sont plantés à seulement 5 m de la maison , cela représente t-il un risque pour les fondations de la maison?
PUIS je vous envoyer une photo de érables en question ?
En vous remerciant bien
cordialement
christine SENSEBE
06 42 42 07 80