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Acer saccharinum

Tree

HomeTreeAcer saccharinum

Banks of rivers, usually in sandy soils. Trees are occasionally found in deep often submerged swamps.

Family: Aceraceae
Height: 30 m / 99 ft
Sun, Semi-shade
Light, Medium and Heavy Soil
Moist

Plant Rating

Edible Uses: 3 of 5
Medicinal Uses: 1 of 5
Other Uses: 4 of 5

Native Habitat

Silver Maple, River Maple, Soft Maple Acer saccharinum native habitat is Banks of rivers, usually in sandy soils. Trees are occasionally found in deep often submerged swamps.

Edible Uses

The sap contains sugar and can be used as a drink or be concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water. The syrup is used as a sweetener on many foods. The yield is only half that of A. saccharum. It is said to be sweeter and whiter than A. saccharum. The sap can be harvested in the late winter, the flow is best on warm sunny days following a frost. The best sap production comes from cold-winter areas with continental climates. Self-sown seedlings, gathered in early spring, are eaten fresh or dried for later use. Seeds - cooked. The wings are removed and the seeds boiled then eaten hot. Good crops are produced nearly every year in the wild. The seed is about 12mm long and is produced in small clusters. Inner bark - cooked. It is dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread. The related Oregon Maple (Acer macrophyllum) has yellow flower clusters, sweet with nectar, eaten raw. No information was found for this species. Carbon farming - Staple Crop: sugar.

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