Acer saccharinum Linnaeus. Section: Rubra. Silver Maple, Soft Maple, White Maple, River Maple. Phen: Feb-Apr; Apr-Jul. Hab: Bottomlands, riverbanks, and disturbed areas; also commonly planted as a street tree. Dist: NS west to SK, south to Panhandle FL, LA, and OK, rare and mostly introduced east of the Appalachians and south of VA. This is an abundant tree along major rivers in the Piedmont of VA. In some parts of our area, 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.

ID notes:The silvery undersides of the leaves are obvious, especially in windy conditions.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: 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, S13, Tat, Va, W, WH3, Murray (1970); = Argentacer saccharinum (L.) Small – S

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
• Great Plains: FAC
• Midwest: FACW
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACW

Heliophily: 5