Maine is the northeasternmost state in the United States. It is known for having a large abundance of forests, which cover about 90 percent of the land. Naturally, this means it has lots of different trees, including maple trees.
Maple Trees in Maine
The most common species of maple trees in Maine are:
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
- Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
- Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
- Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum)
- Mountain Maple (Acer spicatum)
- Boxelder Maple (Acer negundo)
- Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
Various maple hybrids and ornamentals can also be found in Maine but do not occur in natural forested landscapes.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Red Maple is the most abundant species of maple in Maine. Red Maple is an endemic species to Maine. The state’s cold winters and long rainy season make it ideal for Red Maples, which require lengthy winter dormancy to fruit and water-rich environments to grow. Red Maple grows throughout the state of Maine.
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Sugar Maple grows throughout Maine’s hardwood forests. Sugar Maple is endemic to Maine and forms an integral part of the timber and timber products industry in the state. Every winter, thousands of Sugar Maples are tapped for their syrup. Sugar Maples are also a dense hardwood ideal for furniture and cabinet building.
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Silver Maple is a large, softwood maple found throughout Maine except along the southern coast and the far north. Silver Maple grows well in riparian environments or habitats with moist soils. Silver Maples have a decurrent growth pattern that typically expresses itself in two to four codominant stems.
Silver Maple is a poor choice for land design and commercial products because of its spreading growth habit and softwood.
Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum)
Striped Maple is a medium-sized maple species that thrives in shaded environments. The Striped Maple is endemic to Maine and can be found throughout the state.
Striped Maples prefer shaded environments and can be found under stands of old-growth trees in natural landscapes and the shaded coves of park grounds and multi-use spaces in artificial landscapes.
The Striped Maple’s value is aesthetic and environmental. Because of its size and the quality of its wood, the Striped Maple is unsuited for commercial applications.
Mountain Maple (Acer spicatum)
Mountain Maples are endemic to Maine and found throughout the state. The northern half of Maine is home to an abundant population of the small-statured, bush-like Mountain Maple. Like other maple species, the Mountain Maple prefers north-facing slopes and moist soils.
The Mountain Maple is prized primarily for its aesthetic appeal, as its wood is too soft for many commercial uses. Occasionally Mountain Maple is used for firewood or charcoal.
Boxelder Maple (Acer negundo)
Boxelder Maple is native to the midwest and northeast but is considered an invasive species in Maine. The Boxelder Maple was introduced along the St. John river and has spread to some natural forested landscapes.
Many commercial tree care specialists classify Boxelder Maple as a “weed” species. Boxelder Maple is a hardy species capable of surviving in suboptimal environments. The species’ weak wood and decurrent growth pattern make it an untenable timber crop.
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
Norway Maple is not native to Maine. Norway Maples were selected as suitable species for municipal landscape design in Maine because of their broad environmental tolerances and vigorous growth pattern.
Norway Maples establish easily and can survive in sub-optimal environments. Because of their hardy nature, Norway Maples have spread outside of their intended habitat of city parks and streets and into the natural landscape, where they now threaten native flora. Today, Norway Maples are considered invasive species because of their aggressive propagation.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it. A breakdown of the seven most common species of maple tree found in Maine. Some like Red Maple and Sugar Maple are native to the land and can be found all throughout the state, while others like Boxelder Maple and Norway Maple aren’t native and are even considered to be invasive.
You’ll see many varieties of trees in Maine, as well as maple trees, pine trees are also common in the state.