Flora of the Southeastern United States

Acer saccharinum Linnaeus. Common name: Silver Maple, Soft Maple. Phenology: Feb-Apr; Apr-Jul. Habitat: Bottomlands, riverbanks, and disturbed areas. Distribution: NS west to SK, south to Panhandle FL, LA, and OK, rare and mostly introduced east of the Appalachians and south of VA.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: This is an abundant tree along major rivers in the Piedmont of VA. In our area (particularly from c. NC south), the species is more common as a street tree or an escape from cultivation than as a native tree. On the Coastal Plain of NC and SC, A. saccharinum is largely confined to the banks and levees of large brownwater rivers, such as the Roanoke and Congaree. The silvery undersides of the leaves are obvious in windy conditions. The hybrid Acer ×freemanii A.E. Murray [A. rubrum × saccharinum] has been collected at scattered locations in our area.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, Fl4, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mi, Mo2, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Va, W, WH3, Murray (1970); = Argentacer saccharinum – S.

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