Bulbs Flower Basics Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens Flower Garden Garden Furniture Garden Gnomes Garden Seeds Garden Sheds Garden Statues Garden Tools & Supplies Gardening Basics Green & Organic Groundcovers & Vines Growing Annuals Growing Basil Growing Beans Growing Berries Growing Blueberries Growing Cactus Growing Corn Growing Cotton Growing Edibles Growing Flowers Growing Garlic Growing Grapes Growing Grass Growing Herbs Growing Jasmine Growing Mint Growing Mushrooms Orchids Growing Peanuts Growing Perennials Growing Plants Growing Rosemary Growing Roses Growing Strawberries Growing Sunflowers Growing Thyme Growing Tomatoes Growing Tulips Growing Vegetables Herb Basics Herb Garden Indoor Growing Landscaping Basics Landscaping Patios Landscaping Plants Landscaping Shrubs Landscaping Trees Landscaping Walks & Pathways Lawn Basics Lawn Maintenance Lawn Mowers Lawn Ornaments Lawn Planting Lawn Tools Outdoor Growing Overall Landscape Planning Pests, Weeds & Problems Plant Basics Rock Garden Rose Garden Shrubs Soil Specialty Gardens Trees Vegetable Garden Yard Maintenance

What Is the Difference Between a Silver Maple Tree & a Red Maple Tree?

How to Start Lemon Seeds Indoors - watch on youtube
What Is the Difference Between a Silver Maple Tree & a Red Maple Tree?

What Is the Difference Between a Silver Maple Tree & a Red Maple Tree?. The silver maple and red maple are hardy, deciduous trees that grow in a wide range of soil types in the Eastern U.S. and Southeast Canada. They can be distinguished by differences in their size, leaves, fruits, bark and fall color.

The silver maple and red maple are hardy, deciduous trees that grow in a wide range of soil types in the Eastern U.S. and Southeast Canada. They can be distinguished by differences in their size, leaves, fruits, bark and fall color.
Size
According to Maple-Trees.com, the silver maple is larger, growing to heights of 50 to 70 feet and widths of 40 to 60 feet. The red maple will reach heights of 40 to 60 feet and widths of 25 to 45 feet.
Leaves
The silver maple's leaves are wider than the red maple's (5 to 7 inches versus 2 to 6 inches) and have five lobes instead of three. The undersides of the silver maple's new leaves are silver-white in color, while the red maple's new leaves have a whitish undertone.
Fruits
Both trees produce V-shaped fruits, but the silver maple's are twice as long, reaching lengths of 2 inches, according to the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association. Red maple fruits are red, while silver maple fruits are green or brown.
Bark
Young red maples have light gray bark while young silver maples have silvery gray bark. The MMPA says the bark of older silver maples takes on a "shaggy" appearance.
Fall Foliage
AboutMapleTrees.com describes the fall color of the silver maple leaves as yellow-gold and the leaves of red maple as a "spectacular crimson orange."

Check out these related posts