Acer saccharum Sugar Maple

Sugar Maple, is native to the woodlands of eastern North America and it is the tree from which maple sugar and maple syrup are derived. It is also the national tree of Canada and its leaf is depicted on the Canadian flag. In the north eastern United States and Canada, Sugar Maple leaves put on spectacular colour displays in the Fall when they change from green to reds and yellows as they senesce. Sugar Maple is widely cultivated, but outside its native range (e.g. in Britain), it does not produce significant amounts of maple sugar nor do the leaves put on such a colourful display in Autumn. Both sugar production and leaf colour changes are linked with climate conditions which are not always met with in exotic locations. Sugar Maple wood sometimes exhibit a woodgrain pattern that is dotted, resembling bird's eyes, which is commonly referred to as bird's-eye maple. It does not occur naturalised in West Glamorgan.