Red Maple vs Silver Maple - TreeTime.ca

Red Maple vs Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum

Acer rubrum

Silver Maple
Red Maple

Silver Maple is a fast-growing, large deciduous tree that typically has a short trunk and sharply branched crown.

Silver Maple bears red flowers in early spring and beautiful five lobed, deeply notched green and silver leaves that turn yellow in the fall. This versatile and attractive shade tree requires a large yard.

Silver Maple is often used to make syrup instead of Sugar Maple in colder areas where Sugar Maple sap does not sweeten very well (like the Canadian prairies).

Red Maple is a beautiful deciduous tree that blooms with small red flowers in the spring. It is one of the first trees to change colour in the fall, turning a brilliant reddish-orange colour. It is one of the most common and widespread maples in North America.

Red Maple is a great choice for parks and large gardens where there is ample room for its root system.

Important note: Red Maple leaves are toxic to horses if ingested in quantity.

Silver Maple Quick Facts

Red Maple Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $3.49 - SAVE UP TO 61%
Lowest Price: $9.99 - SAVE UP TO 41%
Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 20 m (66 ft)
Height: 15 m (49 ft)
Spread: 12 m (40 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: low
Suckering: none


Toxicity: wilted leaves toxic to horses
Foliage: silvery undersides
Fall colour: pale yellow to brown
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Fruit: winged samara
Seeds: located within the winged samaras
Seeds: located within the winged samaras
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


In row spacing: 2.4 - 4 m (8 - 12 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: ON, QC, NB
Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: creek maple, silverleaf maple, soft maple, water maple, white maple
Other Names: soft maple, swamp maple, water maple