Acer saccharinum, or Silver Maple, is a large, fast-growing, deciduous tree native to eastern and central North America, commonly thriving in riparian zones, floodplains, and moist woodlands, but also widely planted in urban environments. It is recognized by its deeply five-lobed leaves with deep, V-shaped sinuses and sharply toothed margins, a striking silvery-white underside that shimmers in the wind, and clusters of small, greenish-yellow to reddish flowers appearing very early in spring. Its key diagnostic feature is its very large, widely divergent paired samaras (winged seeds), which mature in late spring or early summer (the earliest of native maples) and have prominently veined wings. This adaptable species is known for its shallow, aggressive root system and typically grows 20-35 meters (65-115 feet) tall, often developing multiple large trunks.
