Hard maple is one of Iowa's important commercial species as well as one of the most spectacular trees for beauty and fall color. Hard maple is characterized by having opposite, simple leaves, 3-6" long with 3-5 lobes. The leaf margin is mostly entire with only 1-2 pairs of teeth per lobe. The leaves are dull, dark green on the upper surface and lighter, yellow green below.

Winter twigs are moderate in diameter, light brown to orange brown in color, often with a pale waxy coating. The leaf scars are V-shaped, with 3 visible bundle scars. The buds are long and sharp pointed, cone-shaped, 3/16-1/4 inch long and gray-brown in color. The secondary buds are only about 1/2 as long as the terminal buds. The flowers of hard maple are 1/4 inch long, greenish yellow, born on clusters 1-3" in length, occurring before the leaves appear in the early spring. The fruit is a samara, 1-1 3/4" long, horseshoe shaped with nearly parallel or slightly divergent wings, maturing in September and October.

Hard maple consist of two species; sugar maple (var. saccharum) has deeply lobed 5-lobed leaves with several pairs of sharp teeth and pale lower surfaces. It occurs in eastern Iowa. Black maple (var. nigrum) is characterized by having shallowly 3-lobed leaves with drooping sides, nearly entire margins. It is the only hard maple found in western Iowa. They intergrade so freely that individuals, often cannot be distinguished even with the leaves.

Hard maples are very tolerant, slow growing, long lived with a wide-spreading lateral root system. They occur naturally on a wide variety of sites, but prefer well drained, cool moist locations such as sheltered slopes facing to the north and east. Their common associates include basswood and red oak. Because of their tolerance to shade, they are often a primary understory component of Iowa's upland woodlands. 

Hard maples are a major contributor to Iowa's outstanding fall color. Colors vary from deep shades of orange, red and golden yellow. Hard maples also have great utility for urban and community planting. Because of its slower growth rates, soft and Norway maples are planted more often, but they are less desirable than the hard maples as a long lasting, desirable shade or street tree. 

The wood of hard maple is hard, heavy and shock resistant, used for a variety of products including fine furniture, flooring, veneer, musical instruments, bowling pins, billiard cues, handles, bobbins, pallets and crates. In addition, hard maple is the preferred species for maple syrup production.

Where can you get information?--Contact Paul H. Wray at (515) 294-1168 or write:

Native Trees of Iowa
ISU Forestry Extension
Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
339 Science II
Ames, Iowa 50011-3221