Outstanding Features:
Rapid growth rate. Tolerance to fairly adverse conditions.

Description:
Height: 40-70'
Width: 30-50'
Hardiness Zone: 3b

Silver Maple is a fast growing large tree with an upright oval to rounded crown. Because of its large size and brittle branches which break easily in storms, it is not recommended for small residential properties. Small yellowish to red flowers open in early spring. Seeds mature on female trees in late May and germinate immediately. Leaves are lobed with deep sinuses, light green in color with a silvery lower surface. The yellow fall color is usually not outstanding.

Requirements and Culture:
Needs full sun. Silver Maple tolerates a wide range of soil types. Prefers a deep, moist soil but will grow in poor soil. Requires corrective pruning to develop good form and to remove broken branches. Old, multi-trunked specimens often require cabling.

Limitations:
The main limitations of Silver Maple are its large size and somewhat brittle branches. It is not very tolerant of high soil pH. Its large, vigorous root system can damage sidewalks and drain tiles. Tends to seed prolifically.

Selected Cultivars:

`Blair' - selected for improved branching habit. Good yellow fall color.
`Silver Queen' - selected for seedlessness and rounded habit.
`Weiri' - cutleaf form.
`Skinneri' (`Skinner's Cutleaf') - Deeply cut leaves, pyramidal habit.

Photo Credit: 1 MLA; 2 E. Hasselkus. Photo 2 is `Skinneri'.

Minnesota Power | University of Minnesota | Northern States Power Company

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