Red maples turn red or orange in the fall, making them a sight to behold. Red maples are easily identified by their red leaf stalks. The leaves have a double-toothed margin and are light green. The leaves of red maple trees are lobed, 3-4 inches long, and have 3-5 shallow notches between the lobes. They can reach heights of 40-60 feet and have a single trunk with a narrow, dense crown. Red maple trees are among the most common types of maple trees in Michigan. This tree is also known as Manitoba Maple or Ash-leaved Maple. The larvae of these beetles eat the tree’s leaves, but they do not cause much damage. These flowers eventually develop into a pair of green-winged seeds known as samaras, which can grow to be 1-2 inches long and brown.īoxelder bugs, which are harmless beetles, are frequently found on Boxelder trees. Tiny reddish flowers bloom on a 1-3 inch long stalk in the spring. Because Boxelder sap contains less sugar than other maple saps, it takes more sap to make a comparable syrup. The tree can be tapped in the spring to yield sap that can be boiled down to make maple syrup. It is frequently referred to as a “trash tree,” but it produces a large number of seeds that remain on the tree throughout the winter and provide a valuable food source for wildlife. These leaves turn yellow in the autumn.īoxelder is a native tree with a lifespan of 50-60 years.

Each leaflet is typically 2-4 inches long, with three lobes and an irregular, toothed margin. The trunk of this tree is frequently divided and crooked, and its crown is broad and irregular.īoxelder leaves are compound, which means that each leaf is made up of 3-5 smaller leaflets. One of the most commonly found native maple trees in Michigan, Boxelder is a medium-sized tree found in wet areas along streams, lakes, and flooded areas in the Lower Peninsula’s southern half.

Mature Height: 30-50 feet (9-15 meters).

We also go over details like native range and habitats to help you identify the species much easier.

In this article, we’ll look at each of these trees and provide detailed descriptions of their leaves, bark, flowers, and fruit. Out of these seven species, five are native to the state. In fact, more than seven other maple trees can be found across the region, each with its own unique characteristics. While Sugar Maple trees are common in the state, they are only one of many varieties of maple trees in Michigan. The state is known for its stunning natural beauty, and one of the most iconic elements of its landscape is the maple tree. They are essentially winged seeds that twirl to the ground when ripe, much to the delight of children who get caught in a shower of “whirlybirds.Michigan residents are likely familiar with the sight of Sugar Maple trees lining the roads and adorning backyards. Another thing that all maples have in common is their fruit, called samaras. They are subject to wood rot and landowners have to pay the high cost of tree removal or risk collapse. Quick growth results in brittle branches that break and fall easily, often causing property damage. Landscapers use these trees to get quick results, but they may become a problem in the landscape as they age. Their rapid growth results in a soft wood. Soft maples include a wide variety of trees, such as red and silver maples. They are dull green on top and a lighter color underneath. Hard maples usually have leaves with moderate indentations. The lobes on some maples are mere indentations in the leaves, while others have lobes so deeply divided that a single leaf can look like a cluster of individual, thin leaves. All maples have leaves divided into three, five, or seven lobes. These trees are important to the lumber industry and include black maples and sugar maples, known for their superior quality syrup. Hard maples grow very slowly and live a long time. One distinction between the two maple tree types is the rate of growth. To make maple tree identification a little easier, let's begin by dividing them into two main groups: hard and soft maples. With all of the variations, it's hard to pinpoint a few obvious features that make a tree a maple. Maple trees are members of the genus Acer, which includes a lot of variety in size, shape, color, and growth habit.

Types of maple tree leaves