Silver Maple vs Japanese Maple - TreeTime.ca

Silver Maple vs Japanese Maple

Acer saccharinum

Acer palmatum

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Silver Maple
Japanese 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).

Japanese Maple is one of the most popular accent maples. Its long, fingered lobed leaves can be variegated in the summer with lighter shades of green, red, or even purple. Its autumn colour is a brilliant red that is uncommon in most plants, which adds nice contrast to your yard when planted near other trees.


The Japanese Maple is a diverse variety, there are over 1,000 cultivars with different sizes, shapes, and colours.

This species is extremely popular with bonsai enthusiasts.

Silver Maple Quick Facts

Japanese Maple Quick Facts

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Zone: 3a
Zone: 5a
Height: 20 m (66 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 12 m (40 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: low
Suckering: none


Foliage: silvery undersides
Foliage: wide, palm-like
Fall colour: pale yellow to brown
Fall colour: bright red to yellow
Fruit: winged samara
Seeds: located within the winged samaras
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: ON, QC, NB
Other Names: creek maple, silverleaf maple, soft maple, water maple, white maple
Other Names: palmate maple, smooth japanese maple