Maple trees make a beautiful addition to many locations. We’re lucky enough to have a variety of types of maple trees in Missouri. Known for their beautiful foliage and as being a source of maple syrup, maple trees are versatile and hardy.
Sugar Maple
The sugar maple is native to Missouri and is famous as being a source of maple syrup. Sugar maples can grow to great heights, topping out at around 80 to 100 feet tall. These trees are survivors and can thrive in even highly shaded environments, allowing them to grow in areas where most other trees cannot. While the sugar maple makes an excellent addition to any forest, it is large and slow-growing, so it’s not favored as a landscaping tree. It produces a hard, dense wood which is useful for construction and is known for its beautiful and breathtaking fall foliage colors.
The sugar maple’s most popular use, though, is as a provider of sap which is then made into maple syrup. While the sap of other types of trees can also be used to create maple syrup, the sap of the sugar maple has a higher sugar content, producing more syrup. In the maple sugaring process, a tap is inserted just inside the sugar maple’s bark. Once the sap is collected, it is then boiled down into syrup. Often taps from multiple trees are connected together with tubing, creating a distinctive looking maple sugaring system throughout acres of land. Thanks to its importance to the maple sugar industry, the sugar maple has high economic significance, and it’s one of the most notable types of maple trees in Missouri.
Related Post: The Best Trees for Missouri Lawns
Red Maple
The red maple is a very common maple throughout the United States and is frequently found in Missouri. This tree is aptly named for the brilliant scarlet red of its leaves during the fall. This is a hardy tree which can survive and thrive in less than ideal environments like swamps, but because of its hardiness, it can take over forests and is considered to be invasive. The red maple is popular for lumber.
The red maple grows to a medium height, typically between 50 and 90 feet. A single tree can live more than 150 years, and it makes a popular addition to the landscaping in parks and cities, thanks to its hardiness and its beautiful appearance. You should be aware that red maple leaves are highly toxic to horses, so red maple should never be introduced to a property where horses are kept.
Related Post: Best Fruit Trees for Missouri
Silver Maple
The silver maple is a fast-growing tree, making it an ideal choice for landscaping and as a shade tree. During the fall its leaves turn a pale yellow, less brilliant than the colors of the red maple or the sugar maple. It grows to stand between 50 and 90 feet tall and can survive in a variety of environments, from the very wet to dry soils.
The silver maple is often used as a source for lumber, and its fast growth can lead to improved production. This tree’s roots can quickly crack sidewalks and penetrate septic fields, so it doesn’t make an ideal addition to urban environments.
Call Us About Our Tree Services
These are the three most common types of maple trees in Missouri. If you’re wondering about which type of maple tree is right for your landscaping project, give Nixa Lawn Service a call at 417-724-0318. We provide full-service lawn care and tree services, and we’re happy to work with you on your landscaping project.
