Maples range from 60-foot shade trees to Japanese maples that never get much taller than a garage. They also differ a great deal in how well they behave. Some are long-lived, well-mannered natives; others break in storms, send roots into sewer lines or seed themselves into the woods. Knowing the main types makes it much easier to choose the right one.

Table of Contents

The short answer: for a large shade tree, sugar maple and red maple are the classic native choices. For small yards, Japanese maple and three-flowered maple stay much smaller. Be cautious with silver maple and boxelder, which have weak wood, and avoid planting Norway maple and Amur maple, which The Morton Arboretum lists as invasive and potentially invasive.

Maple types at a glance

Sizes and growing conditions below are from The Morton Arboretum’s plant profiles, which are written for the Chicago region but are a useful guide for much of the northern and central United States.

Maple	Native to North America?	Mature height	Mature width	Light	Key watch-outs
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)	Yes	60–75 ft	40–50 ft	Sun to shade	Intolerant of pollution
Red maple (Acer rubrum)	Yes	40–60 ft	35–45 ft	Sun to part shade	Prefers acid soil; needs root room
Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)	Yes	50–70 ft	30–50 ft	Sun to part shade	Weak wood; roots can invade sewer pipes
Boxelder (Acer negundo)	Yes	30–50 ft	30–50 ft	Full sun	Weak wood; seeds aggressively; suckers
Norway maple (Acer platanoides)	No	40–50 ft	35–50 ft	Sun to part shade	Listed as invasive
Hedge maple (Acer campestre)	No	25–35 ft	25–35 ft	Sun to part shade	Listed as aggressive
Three-flowered maple (Acer triflorum)	No	20–30 ft	20–30 ft	Sun to shade	Hard to find in nurseries
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)	No	15–25 ft	15–35 ft	Part shade	Some cultivars not hardy in zone 5
Amur maple (Acer ginnala)	No	15–18 ft	15–18 ft	Sun to part shade	Listed as potentially invasive

Large native shade maples

Sugar maple

The Morton Arboretum calls sugar maple a Midwest native loved for exceptional fall color, from brilliant yellow to burnt orange, with lustrous summer foliage that gives excellent shade. It is the largest maple in this list at 60 to 75 feet tall, and it tolerates full sun to full shade. Its profile notes that it is intolerant of pollution, so it is better suited to yards and parks than to tight, paved city sites. It is also the classic syrup maple.

Red maple

Red maple is a widely adaptable large tree common in the woods of eastern North America, according to The Morton Arboretum. Its flowers, twigs and seeds have a red tinge, and it is best known for scarlet fall leaves, though fall color can sometimes be yellow. The Arboretum lists acid soil as its preference and notes that red maple needs plenty of room for its dense, spreading root system. If a red maple is struggling, see why a red maple tree might be dying.

Silver maple

Silver maple grows tall and fast and is native to eastern North America, usually along creeks and waterways. The Morton Arboretum says it has become overplanted, that high winds and ice can break limbs without proper and frequent pruning, and that its vigorous roots can invade sewer pipes. It also notes that silver maple can be weedy, spreading many seedlings in lawns and gardens, and that many authorities recommend against planting it.

Boxelder

Boxelder is a maple, even though its compound leaves do not look like one. The Morton Arboretum describes it as a very cold-hardy native that is not widely sold because it self-seeds aggressively, and notes that it attracts boxelder bugs, which often enter homes in fall. Its profile also lists weak wood, susceptibility to ice damage and excessive sucker growth.

Maples to avoid planting

Norway maple

The Morton Arboretum lists Norway maple as an invasive plant that spreads by seed. It is native to Europe and Asia and has been planted widely in urban and suburban areas. Although it tolerates drought and grows 40 to 50 feet tall, its spreading seedlings make it a poor choice where native woodlands are nearby.

Amur maple

Amur maple is a small, often multi-stemmed tree, 15 to 18 feet tall and wide. It is hardy to zone 3 and was commonly planted as a small ornamental, but The Morton Arboretum now lists it as potentially invasive.

Smaller maples for small yards

Japanese maple

The Morton Arboretum describes Japanese maple as a species with many variations that can grow as a large shrub or small tree, with cultivars that have finely dissected leaves or weeping branches. It prefers partial shade and acid, moist, well-drained soil. The Arboretum notes that not all cultivars are fully hardy in zone 5 and some may need winter protection. For more on size, see how big a Japanese maple tree grows.

Three-flowered maple

Three-flowered maple is a lesser-known small tree, 20 to 30 feet tall and wide. The Morton Arboretum praises its shaggy bark and glorious yellow, orange and red fall foliage and calls it a fine specimen tree for gardens. The catch is that it may be difficult to find in nurseries.

Hedge maple

Hedge maple is a broad, rounded tree, 25 to 35 feet tall, that can be used as a specimen or planted in groups as a hedge. The Morton Arboretum says it tolerates part shade, prefers moist, well-drained soil and is relatively salt-tolerant, so it can be used near sidewalks and driveways. Its leaves turn greenish yellow in fall. The Arboretum also lists it as aggressive, so watch for seedlings.

How to choose the right maple

Measure your space. Check the mature width as well as the height, and keep large maples well away from the house. See how far from a house to plant a maple.
Check your soil. Red maple and Japanese maple prefer acid soil; hedge maple handles alkaline soil.
Consider light. Japanese maple does best in part shade; most others prefer more sun.
Avoid invasive species. Skip Norway and Amur maple, and check your state’s invasive plant list.
Think about maintenance. Weak-wooded silver maple and boxelder need more pruning and drop more debris.

For a closer look at how big each maple gets, see how big maple trees get. If you already have a seed-dropping maple, see how to get rid of maple tree seedlings.

Key takeaways

Sugar and red maple are the classic native shade maples.
Silver maple and boxelder grow fast but have weak wood and other drawbacks.
Norway maple is listed as invasive and Amur maple as potentially invasive by The Morton Arboretum.
Japanese, three-flowered and hedge maples suit smaller spaces.
Match the maple to your space, soil and light before you buy.

Sources

Sugar Maple, The Morton Arboretum
Red Maple, The Morton Arboretum
Silver Maple, The Morton Arboretum
Norway Maple, The Morton Arboretum
Japanese Maple, The Morton Arboretum
Amur Maple, The Morton Arboretum
Boxelder, The Morton Arboretum
Hedge Maple, The Morton Arboretum
Three-flowered Maple, The Morton Arboretum

Top photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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