NOS
ACER
SACCHARUM
PAGE

click image
This example outside a large Cary, North Carolina hotel shows that just a small sugar maple can really light up the landscape. This
better stuff than a tree full of bright orange flowers.

Copyright 2003-2006. Laurence C. Hatch. All Rights Reserved.
Lawful for online access only by current society members.
All downloading, printing, saving to media, imaging, screen capture, or offline use is prohibited.
Duplication by any means, method, or technology is unlawful.
Do not link to this page.
Four subspecies are recognized here and delimited in the chart below.  Because of the greater geographic isolation, Acer grandidentatum may be regarded as a distinct and fully speciated entity.  It has been included here for convenience.

 

CHARACTER/TAXON subsp. saccharum subsp. nigrum
(Acer nigrum)		 subsp. floridanum
(Acer barbatum)		 subsp. leucoderme
(Acer barbatum)
Habit and size pyramidal tree to 100 ft. or more, usually single trunked as subsp. saccharum smaller tree than subsp. saccharum and subsp. nigrum, often 25-50 ft. in gardens smallest of the subspecies, rarely over 25 ft. tall, sometimes multi-trunked, slower than even subsp. nigrum in nurseries
Bark medium brown, moderately furrowed darker brown than other subspecies, more highly furrowed or grooved than subsp. saccharum. It called "black maple" due to this darker bark and leaves. lighter brown to whitish compared to other subspecies, smoother and less furrowed than subsp. saccharum. distinctly light grey to chalky white
Leaf size 4.0-7.0 inches long 3.0-6.0 inches longer, slighter smaller than subsp. saccharum 2.5-3.5 inches long, occassionaly larger to 4.5 inches in cultivars or strong nursery plants, much smaller than subsp. saccharum and nigrum 2.0-3.5 inches long, slightly smaller on average than subsp. nigrum
Stipules rarely bearing stipules stipules common but not always noticable (unreported) (unreported)
Leaf vestiture mostly glabrous below except in the vein axils, generally a lighter green than above more distinctly pubescent below than subsp. saccharum distinctly more glaucous to pale below than subsp. saccharum,  silvery-green in some plant. More pubescent than subsp. saccharum in some plants  but this varies widely.Th flower is often somewhat "bearded". variably pubescent and whitish below. Less bicolored than most subsp. nigrum, being less glaucous and more pubescent.
Leaf color above medium to dark green, often quite glossy, even more lustrous in the best cultivars darker green and less glossy than subsp. saccharum, quite a duller blade overall rarely glossy as subsp. saccharum medium green above, rarely dark
Leaf lobes and margins generally 5-lobed, sometimes deeply so, secondary lobes often acute to acuminate 3-5 lobed, more 3-lobed or with smaller basal lobes than subsp. saccharum, more shallowly lobed than subsp. saccharum, apices more rounded, rarely acuminate. Lateral lobes often droop or hang more than subsp. saccharum which tends to have a flatter blade. less highly lobed than subsp. saccharum, margins often entire and undulate 3-5 lobed, blades often triangular witth 2 secondary lobes per primary lobe.
Twig or branchlet color green to brown, rarely orange as subsp. nigrum more orange tinged than subsp. saccharum green to brown reddish-brown
Fall color bright orange to yellow to red shades, often showy rarely as bright as subsp. saccharum grown in the same location, it tends to have more yellowish or gold shades and less red pigments. less bright shades than subsp. saccharum and usually later when grown side by side. bright orange to red shades where native
Schizocarp (samaras) -- -- samaras angled 60-70 degrees samaras angled 50-60 degrees
Cultural tolerance more cold hardy more tolerant of alkaline soils in some selections, also more drought tolerant in some trials more drought and heat tolerant due to its origins  
Geographic range northern and central US states, generally north of Virginia in the east northern and eastern US states, southern US states, generally Virginia to Florida in the east but also west to Texas and Oklahoma. southern US only, particularly Georgia and Alabama, also known in NC, FL, LA, OK, and TX.


 

CULTIVARS ARE ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER REGARDLESS OF SUBSPECIES AFFINITY

Acer saccharum ADIRONDAK® 'Adirzam'
ht: 75-90 ft. tall x 25-30 ft. wide
ha: compact, branches more erect, foliage densely layered
lc: dark green
afx: gold to orange shades, up to 2 weeks later than some other cultivars
lu: said to be more drought tolerant
in: Lake County Nursery OH USA 1991

Acer saccharum 'Alton Ogden'
ha: "lyre-shaped"
or: Ed Scanlon named for A. Ogden of Flint MI c. 1951
so: not in US trade 2003. 

Acer saccharum APPOLLO™ 'Barrett Cole'
ht: 25 ft. tall x 10 ft. wide
ha: densely columnar, symmetrical
lc: dark green
afc: yellow, orange, and red shades
li: Dirr, M.A. 1998. Man. Land. Plts. Stipes Press. p. 54-56.

Acer saccharum 'Arrowhead'
ht: 60 ft. tall x 30 ft. wide
ha: narrowly pyramidal, that is like a green arrow shape, compact, central leader strong in production
afc: yellow, orange, and red shades
in: Schichtel Nursery, Orchard Park, NY USA 1979

Acer saccharum 'Autumn Splendor' (8/00)
lv: fewer hairs in axils of veins below
bud: winter buds 4.0-5.5mm long with pubescent scales
afc: bright yellow-orange to red (RHS 22A, 42B
st: winter twigs grayish orange (RHS 175C, 175A)
lu: more drought tolerant than older cvs. and resistant to leaf tatter
or: John C. Pair Horticultural Res. Center from superior mature tree in their collection in 1992
in: US trade 1993
reg: IRA 1999.
li: Tebbitt, M.C. 2000. International registration of cultivar names for unassigned woody genera
li: 1999. HortScience 35(4): 548.

Acer saccharum 'Bakharl' (1/6)
ha: upright-spreading, full crown, subglobose to ovoid in time, dense
afc: purplish-red, dark red, orange, and yellow shades, ending up more in the dark red range
or, pat: Robert Baker, W. Suffield, CT USA, selected in 1993 from local superior tree, USPPAF  12/29/05

Acer saccharum 'Bakrise' (1/6)
ha: upright-spreading to ovoid
afc: bright red shades, very showy
or, pat: Robert Baker, W. Suffield, CT USA, selected in 1993 from local superior tree, USPPAF  12/29/05

Acer saccharum 'Bonfire'
ht: 50 ft. tall x 40 ft. wide
ha: vigorous, wider pyramidal than species typical, sometimes seen is more ovoid
ir: leafhopper resistant blades
lc: glossy dark green
afc: often rich carmine to red shades. In some areas the color is weak red to yellow.
or: Princeton Nurseries, NJ USA 1977
pat: US# 3817 in 1975

Acer saccharum 'Brocade'
ls: leaflets divided 60-75% to base, often giving 3 secondary narrow lobes per primary lobe. It is more sharply
ls: lobed and in our opinion showier compared to 'Sweet Shadow'
or: found near Croton Falls NY USA 1974 in wild
in, reg: J.D. Vertrees OR USA to US trade in 1980's

Acer saccharum 'Caddo'
afc: yellow to red shades, not always very showy
or: selected seed strain from dry canyons in Caddo and Canadian Counties OK USA
ch, lu: more cold hardy and drought tolerant. It tolerates calcareous soils much better

Acer saccharum 'Cary'
ha: narrowly bell-shaped, branches at 45 degree angles, smaller, more compact, denser than most other columnars
ll: often half species size. Jacobson (1996) notes that a tree in the Seattle arboretum has normal-sized blades.
or: John Ploetz 1960 found at Cannoo Hills, NY USA.
ns: named for Mary Flagler Cary now known for  the nearby Cary Arboretum
in: Brooklyn Bot. Gard. 1974
pat: US# 2581 in 1965

Acer saccharum 'Coleman'
ht: 40 ft. tall x 15-20 ft. wide
ha: broadly columnar at first, later much wider
or: R.M. Nordine, Morton Arboretum IL USA found 1950 Lyn Avenue, Lake City MN USA 

Acer saccharum COMMEMORATION™
ha: vigorous, dense, well-branched
lc: dark green
lt: blades more thick and textured, resistant to leaf tatter
afc: yellow to orange-red shades, 10-14 days before most other clones
pat: US# 5079 in 1983
or: Bill Wandell, Urbana IL USA selection
in: Moller Nursery, Gresham OR USA c. 1981

Acer saccharum CRESCENDO™ 'Morton'
ht: 25-30 ft. tall
ha: broadly ovoid, resembling GREEN MOUNTAIN
lc: dark green
lt: thicker, durable blades
afcL: orange to red shades
or: Morton Arboretum IL USA 1960's, probably from an Illinois seed source
lu: more heat and drought tolerant than many older clones
li: Dirr, M.A. 1998. Man. Land. Plts. Stipes Press. p. 54-56.

Acer saccharum 'Davey'
ht: 50 ft. tall
ha: vigorous, dense, broadly ovoid
lc: dark green
af: yellow to orange shades
in: Davey Nursery, Wooster OH USA c. 1990
li: Jacobson, A.L. 1996. North American landscape trees. Ten Speed Press. Berkeley. p. 56

Acer saccharum 'Eagle Claw' (4/5)
ha: "semi-compact', leaves distinctly drooping
lt: leaves claw-like, drooping
lc: very dark green
or: Theodore Klein, KY USA found in front yard on Floydsburg Rd, Crestwood, KY
web: Yew Dell Gardens (online website 2005)

Acer saccharum 'Endowment Columnar' ('Lanco Columnar', 'HRI 1')
ht: 50 ft. tall x 15 ft. wide
ha: broadly columnar
lt: scorch resistant
afc: orange to red shades
ch: bark crack resistant in cold weather
in: Siebenthaler Nursery, Dayton OH USA 1980

Acer saccharum FAIRVIEW™
ha: stronger branching, broadly ovoid
bk: lighter colored than subsp. saccharum
lc: rich "emerald green"
afc: orange shades
in: A. McGill & Son Nur., Fairview OR USA 1975

Acer saccharum FALL FIESTA
ht: 50-70 ft. tall x 50 ft. wide
ha: vigorous, upright to subglobose
lc: glossy green
lt: very thick, durable blades, tatter resistant
afc: yellow, orange, and red shades
or: seedling of Oregon source
in: Bailey Nusery MN USA
li: Dirr, M.A. 1998. Man. Land. Plts. Stipes Press. p. 54-56.

'Fiddler's Creek' - click image
Cornell Plantations, Ithaca, NY. August 2005. Another cutleaf sugar maple and a very pretty one. It should be compared to
'Brocade' and 'Sweet Shadow' for distinctions.

Acer saccharum 'Fiddler's Creek' (8/5)
lc: highly incised with elongated, sharp lobes

'Flax Hill Majesty' - click image
JC Raulston Arboretum. June 2005. A good dark leaf, pleasant shape with a thicker, wind-resistant texture.

'Flax Hill Majesty' - click image
Maple Collection, Cornell Plantations. August 2005. Labeled as 'Majesty'.

Acer saccharum 'Flax Hill Majesty' ('Majesty')
ha: vigorous, more highly branched, straight leader, symmetrical, neatly ovoid overall
lt: thicker - very durable
lc: darker green
afc: red to orange shades, often coloring early
ch: original tree survived to -38 def. F.
pat: US# 5273 in 1984
in: Flax Hill Nusery, Cambridge NY USA 1983

Acer saccharum 'Flower'
ht: 50 ft. tall x 35 ft. wide
ha: narrower when young, eventually narrowly pyramidal
or: H.C. Flower, Manchester VT USA 1958 from narrow tree on his land

'Globosum' - click image
Highland Park Arboretum, Rochester, NY. August 2005. A less distinquished plant than the Globe Norway Maple but still
a nice tree.

Acer saccharum 'Globosum'
ht: 25 ft. tall x 25 ft. wide, one plant to 38 ft. is known
ha: globose to broadly ovoid when top-grafted
afc: yellow to red shades
lu: too large for underwire plantings on streets. A. platanoides 'Globosum' is smaller and much more common.
or: W.K. LaBar, LaBar's Rhododendron Nursery, PA USA found in NC USA mountains
in: Kingsville Nur., MD USA c. 1942

'Goldspire' - click image
Dawes Arboretum. Summer 2003. This cultivar is not only narrow (like about 7 others) but has nice yellow fall colors. It is a
very good compromise between the stubby tufts of 'Newton Sentry' and the density of more broad cultivars.

Acer saccharum 'Goldspire'
ht: 40 ft. tall x 12 ft. wide
ha: densely columnar to narrowly ovoid, sometimes pleasant irregular
or: 'Newton Sentry' x 'Temple's Upright'
afc: gold to yellow shades, hence a spire of gold leaves
lu: leafscorch resistant
in: Princeton Nur., NJ USA 1973
pat: US# 2917 in 1969

Acer saccharum subsp. nigrum 'Greencolumn'
ht: 70 ft. tall x 25-30 ft. wide
ha: broadly columnar
bk: distinctly furrowed and plated as mature trees. An alligator-type pattern often develops
afc: yellow to orange shades
lu: proven more drought and heat tolerant subspecies typical
or: William Heard found in Boone Co. IA USA 1959 for it's unique habit and bark character
in: Schmidt Nur., Boring OR 1977 to trade
pat: US# 3722 in 1975

GREEN MOUNTAIN® - click image
Cornell Plantations, Ithaca, NY. August 2005. This tree cannot be distinquished from 99% of the wild trees growing in this region.

Acer saccharum GREEN MOUNTAIN® 'PNI 0285'
ha: broadly ovoid to narrowly pyramidal, uniform, vigorous
lc: dark green above, paler and pubescent below
lt: thicker, waxier more durable blades, resisting defoliation
afc: yellow, orange, and red shades
or: subsp. nigrum x subsp. saccharum
in: Princeton Nur. NJ USA 1964

Acer saccharum 'John Pair' (8/00)
afc: red to grayish-red (RHS 46B, 179B) and persisting longer
st: winter twigs grayish orange (RHS 165B, 164A, 175AA)
bud: winter buds 4.0-5.5mm long and scarcely pubescent (unlike 'Autumn Splendor')
or: John Pair Hort. Res. Center in 1992 from superior mature tree in their collection
reg: IRA 1999
in: US trade 1993
'li: Tebbitt, M.C. 2000. International registration of cultivar names for unassigned woody genera
li: 1999. HortScience 35(4): 548.  

Acer saccharum JOHNNYCAKE™ 'Jocazam'
ha: vigorous, pyramidal
ll: 10-12 in. wide - much larger, giving a bold effect
afc: orange to red shades, often quite showy
in: Lake County Nursery, Perry OH USA 1994

Acer saccharum 'Legacy'
ha: vigorous, ovoid, more dense, highly branched
lt: thicker blades, more tatter and damage resistant
ch, lu: proven to be both more cold hardy and heat tolerant than older clones
afc: yellow, orange, and pink shades, frequently showy
or: Bill Wandel, Urbana IL USA before 1981
in: Miller Nursery, Gresham OR USA 1981
pat: US# 4979 in 1983

Acer saccharum 'Louisa Lad'
ha: narrower, taller than wide
ht: 12m
afc: intense" fall colors in Netherlands, even in maritime climate per van Gelderen.
or: J.J.W.M. can de Oever of Netherlands 1984
in: originator 1984
li: Gelderen, C.J. van and D.M. van Gelderen. 1999. Maples for gardens. Timber Press. Portland.

Acer saccharum 'Millane's Dwarf'
ht: 8 ft. tall x 3 ft. wide (15 years)
ha: dwarf, ovoid, very dense, very slow at 2-3 inches growth a year
or: Theodore Klein KY USA c. 1980
li: Dirr, M.A. 1998. Man. Land. Plts. Stipes Press. p. 54-56.

Acer saccharum subsp. nigrum 'Morgan'
afc: orange-red, very showy 
or: Morton Arboretum IL USA.
ns: apparently not the same as 'Morton' which is sold as CRESENDO (see below)
li: Jacobson, A.L. 1996. North American landscape trees. Ten Speed Press.
li: Berkeley.

Acer saccharum MOUNTAIN PARK™
ha: uniform branching, pyramidal
afc: orange to red shades, often showy
in: Moller Nur., Gresham OR USA c. 1991
li: Jacobson, A.L. 1996. North Amer. Land. Trees. Ten Speed Press. p. 58

Acer saccharum 'Monumental' = 'Temple's Upright'?
ha: pyramidal, compact
lc: second flush of spring or summer growth is red tinged
ns: it is said to different from 'Monumentale' which has associations with Rochester NY in both it's
ns: true forms, these being 'Newton Sentry' and 'Temple's Upright'. I am personally skeptical of there
ns: being a third erect clone. There is no evidence in 2005 of this clone in any of the Rochester
ns: collections. I'm inclined to think this is just a typo by Ellwanger and Barry (in 1893) from
ns: Temple's use of 'Monumtale' around that time. 'Temple's Upright' was planted at Highland Park in
ns: 1909 and fully matches the nature of this plant.
ns: Jacobson (1996) holds this one as distinct.
or: Ellwanger & Barry Nur., Rochester NY USA 1893

Acer saccharum 'Monumentale' = both 'Newton Sentry' and 'Temple's Upright' 

Acer saccharum 'Natchez' (4/5)
ha: broadly columnar
or: Theodore Klein, KY USA from witches broom
web: Yew Dell Gardens (online website 2005)

Acer saccharum 'Pocahontas' (4/5)
ha: narrowly columnar
or: Theodore Klein, KY USA from witches broom
web: Yew Dell Gardens (online website 2005)

Acer saccharum 'Shawnee'
ha: densely subglobose to ovoid
or: Theodore Klein KY USA c. 1980 from witches broom
li: Dirr, M.A. 1998. Man. Land. Plts. Stipes Press. p. 54-56.
web: Yew Dell Gardens (online website 2005)

'Newton Sentry' - click image
Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, PA USA. June 2005.

'Newton Sentry' - click image
Test Gardens, Cornell Plantations, Ithaca, NY. August 2005. Two of three very old examples on the Cornell grounds. These trees now form
a gateway to the renovated test gardens, now mostly consisting of ornamental shrubs.

'Newton Sentry' - click image
Columnar tree collection, Durand-Eastman Park, Rochester NY. August 2005. These plants are still labeled A. s. f. columnare despite
Rochester's own Bernard Harkness proposing the name 'Newton Sentry' for this use of the confused epithet "columnare". These are
surely the plants on which he based his clarified nomenclature since it was Slavin who planted this particular columnar tree garden and
Harkness refers to Slavin's plantings there in Rochester. There are the oldest of the Newton's in Rochester to my knowledge.

Acer saccharum subsp. nigrum 'Newton Sentry' ('Erectum', 'Columnare'in part, 'Monumentale' in part, 'Sentry' in part)
ht: plants 50-60 feet tall x 3-4 ft. wide are known
ha: highly fastigiate, often reduced to numerous stunted limbs around a central trunk. It is bizarre more than beautiful.
ns: 'Monumentale' is also a name used for 'Temple's Upright'. It was called 'Columnare' but that has been rejected by
ns: most taxonomists as a nomen confusum.
or: found at Claflin Grammar School, Newton MA USA c. 1871

Acer grandidentatum ROCKY MOUNTAIN GLOW™ 'Schmidt'
afc: rich red shades, often very showy
in: Schmidt Nursery, Boring OR USA c. 1990

Acer saccharum subsp. nigrum 'Slavin's Upright'
ha: broadly columnar, branches very distinctly erect
or: Highland Park Arboretum, Rochester NY USA 1903 as seedling of tree near Salamanca NY USA 1903  
in: Bernard Slavin 1950, Rochester Parks, NY USA
id, so: it may be lost except for collections. There was no plant to match this in Rochester gardens in 2005
id, so: that is not labeled as 'Temple's Upright'.

Acer saccharum 'Sandborn'
ht: 30 ft. tall x 7 ft. wide
ha: narrowly columnar 
or: found before 1958 on land of Mrs. E.R. Sandborn, Concord  NH USA

Acer saccharum 'Seneca Chief'
ht: 60 ft. tall x 30 ft. wide
ha: more densely branched
afc: yellow to orange shades
in: Schichtel Nur., Orchard Park NY USA c. 1979

Acer saccharum 'Senecaense' (subsp. saccharum x subsp. leucoderme)(A. x senecaense Slavin)
ha:  semi-dwarf, much more compact
ll: smaller than subsp.  saccharum
ns: it is a name used for one of nine original seedlings of the same traits. As the susbpecies are no longer
ns: considered separate species the interspecific hybrid name is not being used.
or: Bernard Slavin, Rochester Parks, Rochester NY USA 1919 as intraspecific hybrid of the two subspecies

Acer saccharum 'Shawnee'
ha: densely subglobose to ovoid, of witches broom origin
or: Theodore Klein KY USA c. 1980
li: Dirr, M.A. 1998. Man. Land. Plts. Stipes Press. p. 54-56.

Acer saccharum 'Skybound'
ha: narrowly upright, later more oval
afc: yellow to orange shades, often showy
in: Synnestvedt Nur., Round Lake IL USA c. 1988 

Acer saccharum STEEPLE™ 'Artis'
ha: ovoid, symmetrical, narrow
lc: dark green
lu: heat and drought tolerant
or: Mike Dirr GA USA from superior tree in Athens
in: Athena Trees GA USA
li: Dirr, M.A. 1998. Man. Land. Plts. Stipes Press. p. 54-56.

'Sugar Cone' - click image
Maple collection, Cornell Plantations, Ithaca, NY. August 2005. An immediately impressive plant for its narrowness and density. It was be interesting to
compare to other narrow clones as it ages.

Acer saccharum 'Sugar Cone' (8/5)
ha: densely and narrowly conical, reminding some of a piled high ice cream cone
in: US trade c. 2003

Acer saccharum 'Summer Proof'
ha: vigorous, spreading to pyramidal
lt: thick blades resist windburn and sunburn 

Acer saccharum 'Sweet Shadow' ('Laciniatum' invalid, 'Sweet Shadow Cutleaf')
lt: blades highly cut, lobe apices acute to acuminate but not as long and sharplty pointed as 'Brocade'
afc: often showy
in: Powell Valley Nur., Gresham OR USA 1961
pat: US# 2139 in 1862

'Temple's Upright' - click image
US National Arboretum. June 2005. A decent, mature example in what little is left of the USNA's tree collections.

'Temple's Upright' - click image
Highland Park Arboretum, Rochester, NY. August 2005. This tree and a companion on the other side of the Lambert Conservatory are undoubtedly
the oldest and finest of the cultivar in the world. They were planted in 1909. Note how a couple of sections of the canopy seem to differ in density
and erectness from the nearby sections.

Acer saccharum 'Temple's Upright' ('Monumentale' in part, 'Columnare' in part, 'Sentry' in part)
ht: 50-60 ft. tall x 15-25 ft. wide - much wider than 'Newton Sentry'
ha: broadly columnar, mostly lacking the short, stubby limbs of 'Newton Sentry'
lm: less undulate than 'Newton Sentry'
lc: yellowish-green to medium green, not quite as dark as 'Newton Sentry'
or: F.L. Temple, Shady Hill Nursery, Cambridge MA USA 1887
ns: Bernard Harkness of Rochester NY in 1954 was concerned about all the different maples
ns: circulating as 'Monumentale' and 'Columnare'. This wider one he named 'Temple's Upright'

Acer saccharum UNITY™ 'Jefcan' (9/3)
ht: 30-40 ft.
ha: upright to globose, resistant to frost cracking
afc: orange-red to yellow
lc: dark green
pet: longer than moany other clones
ch: USDA 3 - hardier than some
or: Dr. Wilbert Ronand and Rich Durand as selected third generation seedling
eval: this is the frist cultivar selected in Canada for cold prairie conditions
in: Jeffriesnurseries.com in 2002

Acer saccharum 'Wright Brothers' ('Moraine')
ha: more vigorous, up to twice growth rate of common seedlings, broadly conical, uniform from vegetative propagation
afc: gold, orange, and red shades, often atttractively mottled and blended
in, or: Siebenthaler Nur., Dayton OH USA 1980
ns: the Wright Brothers were from Dayton OH where the clone originated.
pat: US# 4534 in 1980