In the spring, a break in any twig, branch, or trunk of the Sugar Maple oozes sugary water, attracting birds, beetles, and mammals who drink the sap. The tree’s leaves change from a gorgeous orange to a blazing crimson in the fall. It thrives in rich, moist soil and full sun. The Sugar Maple is a North American native that can survive for 150-200 years. The tree produces a pair of green-winged seeds (samara) that turn tan and measure 34- 112″ (2-4 cm) long.
The flowers are greenish-yellow and about 14″ (.6 cm) wide, dangling from a stalk that is 1-2″ (2.5-5 cm) long. Sugar Maple bark is gray in color, with narrow furrows and uneven ridges that can be scaly. The leaf’s upper side is yellowish-green, while the underside is lighter. The leaves are lobed and 3-5 inches (7.5-12.5 cm) long, with 5 lobes (sometimes 3), pointy tips, a few irregular teeth, and a wavy edge. It can reach 50-70 feet in height and has a single trunk with ascending branches and a thin rounded to oval crown. It is a well-known and well-liked tree that both people and wildlife adore, not just in Ohio. Undoubtedly, Sugar Maple is among the most commonly found maple trees in Ohio. Uses: Source of maple syrup, maple sugar, hardwood used for furniture, flooring and cabinets.Flowers/Cones: Greenish-yellow flowers, paired green winged seeds.So, let’s explore the world of maple trees in Ohio. Each tree is distinct in its own right and can provide syrups, hardwoods, and other products.
In this article, I’ll go over eight of the most commonly grown maple trees in Ohio, including both native and non-native naturalized varieties. If you live in Ohio and are looking for the best maple variety to grow in your home, then this is the only article you need to read. Who wouldn’t want to plant some maple trees in their backyard if they had the space? I’m experimenting with these methods to see what works for our region, and for small-scale growers like me.I think we can all agree that maple syrup is the best. For the past few years I have been fortunate to have learned from some very generous nurserymen and growers about techniques for cultivating different types of plants. My Pop Pop’s passion for growing Japanese maples has rubbed off on me, and after he passed away, I decided that I’d like to learn to cultivate Japanese maples and conifers as well. My brother is also following this outdoors passion and is currently running a pick-your-own fruit farm, Threefold Farm, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.Īs I’ve grown older, gone to college, lived in different places, seen a lot of the country, I’ve realized how fortunate I was to have a wonderful family with such earnest interests. My Pop Pop’s passion for the outdoors certainly rubbed off on my dad, who has worked as a forester for over 40 years and is able to be outdoors most days. Every one seemed just a little different from the next. I always admired all of his trees and felt a sense of peace walking amongst them. His yard was filled with Japanese maple trees and conifers that he had either grown from seed, or grafted. Occasionally I could be pulled out from under the television’s glow to go outside for walks. I can remember as a kid going to my grandparents house every summer, and because they had cable television and we didn't at home, I spent a lot of time in front of the TV. He started growing Japanese maples more than 30 years ago as a hobby and for supplemental income. As a child of the depression, he worked incredibly hard to make a living. My grandfather (Pop Pop), Leroy Clymer, was a stone mason who lived in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.