Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple)
Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple)
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Pure Live Seed
Pure Live Seed
Seed is provided in Pure Live Seed (PLS) unless otherwise stated.
Pure Live Seed (PLS) expresses the viable seed content of a seed lot using its purity and germination or viability test results. It helps you compare seed lots and calculate how much bulk seed is needed to meet a specified PLS planting rate.
PLS weight and bag weight
PLS weight is not the same as the total weight of seed in a bag. For example, a lot with 80% purity and 75% viability contains 60% PLS: 80 × 75 ÷ 100 = 60. Supplying 10 lb PLS from that lot requires about 16.67 lb of bulk seed.
Use the current seed test and the stated basis of the mix specification. Germination calculations may include applicable hard or dormant seed. Seed-count estimates also require the number of seeds per pound; PLS alone does not provide a seed count.
What to check when buying a mix
Check whether each rate is stated in PLS pounds, bulk pounds, or a combination. A mix with both bases should not be described as having an all-PLS total.
PLS does not remove weed seeds or guarantee establishment. Review the seed label and analysis for weed content, and match site preparation, planting conditions and follow-up management to your project.
Sources: USDA NRCS, Understanding Pure Live Seed and The Importance of Seed Quality for Natural Resource Conservation.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
0.01 pounds = 0.16 ounces
- 0.1 pounds = 1.6 ounces
- 0.25 pounds = 4 ounces
- 0.5 pounds = 8 ounces
- 0.75 pounds = 12 ounces
- 1.00 pounds = 16 ounces
Silver maple grows quickly and tolerates temporary flooding. Allow generous space for its broad crown, and account for wood that can break in wind or ice when deciding where to plant.
For Acer saccharinum, choose full to partial sun and moist soil. Recorded habitats include moist floodplain woods; Riverbanks; Swamps. Reported height: 60-100 ft.
Leave room for the mature branches beside paths and nearby plantings. Growth habit: short, broad trunk with an oval crown and long ascending branches. Root structure: shallow, widely spreading woody lateral roots.
Plant specifications & ecological relationships
Key growing facts
| Sunlight | Full to partial sun |
|---|---|
| Soil moisture | Moist |
| Height | 60-100 ft |
| Bloom season | Early to mid-spring |
Native landscape companions
For partial sun / light shade and moist soil, consider these native plants alongside Acer saccharinum:
| Companion plant | Height |
|---|---|
| Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis) | 60-100 ft |
| Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) | About 4-10 ft |
| Dark-green Bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens) | About 2½–4 ft |
| Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) | 1½–3 ft |
These landscape suggestions combine overlapping growing needs with documented plant associations. Match soil, seasonal wetness and mature spread to your site. Remnant records are described separately under Plant communities & associates.
Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
| Growth habit | Short, broad trunk with an oval crown and long ascending branches |
|---|---|
| Root form | Shallow, widely spreading woody lateral roots |
| Soil pH | Published cultivation guidance lists acidic, alkaline, neutral soil conditions; no optimal numeric interval is established. |
| Cultivation hardiness zones | Zones 3a–9b (general cultivation guidance) |
| Drought tolerance | Drought tolerance reported in cultivation guidance; establishment needs and duration are not specified. |
| Deer browsing | White-tailed deer browse foliage and twigs. |
| Salt tolerance | Low |
Plant identification & seed reference
| Botanical name | Acer saccharinum |
|---|---|
| Other common names | silver maple; River Maple; Silverleaf Maple; Silver Maple; Swamp Maple; Water Maple; White Maple |
| Seed germination | USDA reports no cold pretreatment requirement; fresh seeds lack dormancy. |
| Plant family | Sapindaceae |
| Seeds per pound — reference estimate | 1610 |
Plant characteristics
Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple) is a treasured street and urban tree because it grows fast, is tolerant to salt, thrives in a variety of soil moisture, and is tolerant to air pollution. It is not without its problems though, because it grows quickly it is susceptible to week wooded limb splits and it can seed profusely. If you are looking for a large, graceful yet tough street tree, this may be your best bet.
Show / hide ▾Plant communities & associates
Documented Illinois communities
Floodplain forest — woody layer
Lost Mound — Jo Daviess County, Illinois; 2005 survey.
Other native plants recorded in this survey area: Celtis occidentalis, Fraxinus lanceolata, Ulmus americana.
Selected species from the woody layer. The survey includes disturbance and succession; these records do not specify immediate neighbors or planting proportions.
Chicago-region plant communities
Sand Ridge Savanna, Will County (2007–2009 study). Recorded in: wet sand prairie.
Wet sand prairie — selected native associates: Spartina pectinata, Carex scoparia, Onoclea sensibilis.
These records come from sampled communities within the preserve.
Illinois woodland and stream communities
Middle Fork Woods, Vermilion County (1999–2002 survey). Recorded in: perennial stream corridor.
Perennial stream corridor — selected native associates: Phlox divaricata, Sorghastrum nutans, Aesculus glabra.
These plants share a recorded habitat; they were not necessarily found in the same small plot.
Illinois plant communities
Mesic black-soil prairie — central Illinois
Recorded at Prospect Cemetery Prairie (Ford County). INHS identifies these sites as remnants of this community.
Selected native plants from the same remnant records:
- Sorghastrum nutans
- Andropogon gerardii
- Sporobolus heterolepis
- Eryngium yuccifolium
- Silphium laciniatum
- Parthenium integrifolium
These inventories include edges and disturbed patches. Shared remnant records do not establish that every plant grows together in one microsite.
Other documented plant associations
These published associations show how this plant fits into natural vegetation. The region and community are identified for each list; moisture, shade and flooding can differ within a community.
Northern hardwood forests, including wetter variants
Northern part of the American hornbeam range
Other regional plant communities
These plants are named with this species in published vegetation accounts. Each list keeps its community and region; some records describe a shared vegetation type rather than neighboring plants in a measured plot. They are ecological records, not a planting recipe, and may include plants unsuitable for a particular garden.
- Floodplain forest across different flooding elevations (Illinois): Platanus occidentalis, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ulmus americana, Celtis occidentalis.
- Floodplain forest (Southern Wisconsin): Ulmus americana.
- Bottomland forest understory (Central Forest Region): Salix spp., Sambucus pubens, Cornus sericea, Smilax spp..
- Bottomland forest trees (Northern Forest Region): Quercus bicolor, Platanus occidentalis, Nyssa sylvatica, Populus deltoides.
- Bottomland forest trees (New England and eastern Canada): Betula lenta, Betula papyrifera, Betula populifolia.
- Bottomland forest trees (New York): Fraxinus americana, Ulmus rubra, Nyssa sylvatica, Platanus occidentalis, Tsuga canadensis, Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus bicolor.
- Riparian forests (Central United States and Canada): Cornus sericea.
- Bottomland forest (Webster County, Nebraska): Quercus macrocarpa.
Spring Bay Fen Nature Preserve — wet-mesic floodplain forest
Surveyed in 2007, 2008 and 2011. Wet-mesic floodplain forest recorded separately from the adjoining fen. These dated records do not establish presence today.
Other native plants recorded in this surveyed community: Acer nigrum, Agastache nepetoides, Amorpha fruticosa, Anemone canadensis, Arisaema dracontium, Arisaema triphyllum, Blephilia hirsuta, Carex blanda, Carex emoryi, Carex grayi.
Murphy, Phillippe & Ebinger 2021, Appendix 1. Selected associates from the same community; records do not show immediate neighbors or prescribe planting ratios.
Spring Bay Fen Nature Preserve — tall shrub fen
Surveyed in 2007, 2008 and 2011. Tall shrub fen on Lena muck, recorded separately from the adjoining forest and filled upland. These dated records do not establish presence today.
Other native plants recorded in this surveyed community: Amorpha fruticosa, Asclepias incarnata, Blephilia hirsuta, Bolboschoenus fluviatilis, Caltha palustris, Carex hystericina, Carex stipata, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Chelone glabra, Cinna arundinacea.
Murphy, Phillippe & Ebinger 2021, Appendix 1. Selected associates from the same community; records do not show immediate neighbors or prescribe planting ratios.
Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value
State nativity describes a broad range. Use the Chicago-region assessment for local context; a state listing does not establish county nativity.
| Wetland indicator — NWPL 2022 Midwest | FACW |
|---|---|
| C-value — Chicago region, Flora 2017 | 1 |
| Chicago-region native — Flora 2017 | Yes |
| Native range — U.S. states | Alabama; Arkansas; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin |
| County nativity | Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity. |
Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlife
Caterpillars & other plant-feeding insects
This plant has published caterpillar host records for the butterflies and moths listed below. These are larval feeding relationships, separate from adult nectar visits. The records span a North American literature compilation and do not establish that every insect occurs locally or uses only this plant.
Moths
- Acharia stimulea — Saddleback Caterpillar Moth
- Acronicta retardata — Bantam Maple Dagger, Retarded Dagger
- Alsophila pometaria — Fall Cankerworm Moth
- Anisota oslari — Oslar's Oakworm Moth
- Automeris io — Io Moth
- Caloptilia packardella — Packard's Caloptilia
- Cenopis pettitana — Maple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
- Dryocampa rubicunda — Rosy Maple Moth, Green-Striped Mapleworm, Rosy Dryocampa
- Eacles imperialis — Imperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Hypena baltimoralis — Baltimore Bomolocha, Baltimore Snout
- Macaria pustularia — Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth
- Machimia tentoriferella — Gold-Striped Leaftier Moth
- Orthosia hibisci — Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Phyllonorycter trinotella — Red Maple Blotchminer
- Proteoteras aesculana — Maple Seed Caterpillar, Maple Twig Borer
- Sunira bicolorago — Bicolored Sallow
Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions
What are the ideal growing conditions for Silver Maple?
Light: Full to partial sun. Soil moisture: Moist.
How do I germinate and establish Silver Maple from seed?
USDA reports no cold pretreatment requirement; fresh seeds lack dormancy.
Is Silver Maple deer and herbivore resistant?
White-tailed deer browse foliage and twigs. Even plants described as resistant may be browsed. Use physical protection where deer damage is a concern.
When should I expect Silver Maple to bloom?
Typical flowering period: Early to mid-spring. Timing varies with location and weather.
Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes
Landscape companion selection: Natural Communities compared the growing requirements shown on these species pages with selected source records: Perennial stream corridor — East-central Illinois; Tall shrub fen — Illinois River valley; Wet sand prairie — Chicago region — Will County, Illinois. The shortlist is a planting-design inference. A shared record does not establish adjacency, identical soil requirements, local seed origin, or a tested planting combination. Regional synthesis records retain their documented focal-to-associate scope.
Will County community records: Phillippe, Marcum & Ebinger (2012), Sand Ridge Savanna vegetation, Tables 1–5. Selected species and habitat facts independently organized; no open license is asserted for the article. Sampled communities are kept separate from the preserve’s seeded field.
Illinois woodland records: Larimore, Phillippe & Ebinger (2008), Middle Fork Woods flora, Appendix I. © 2008 University of Illinois Board of Trustees, CC BY 4.0. Habitat records transcribed, selected and linked to catalog names by Natural Communities. Survey: 1999–2002.
Illinois communities & local records: INHS: Loda, Prospect and Weston prairie records.
Native range & ecological ratings: Flora of the Chicago Region (2017), via Universal FQA; USACE Chicago FQA (2017); Kew WCVP / Plants of the World Online; USACE National Wetland Plant List.
Growing conditions & other references: Illinois Wildflowers, John Hilty; USDA Forest Service: american hornbeam; USDA Forest Service: Acer saccharinum; USDA Forest Service: Cornus sericea; USDA Forest Service: Quercus macrocarpa; USDA Forest Service: species review; USDA NRCS PLANTS; USDA Forest Service: species review; NC State Extension Plant Toolbox.
Wildlife records: Shropshire & Tallamy: caterpillar hosts (2025).
Native range does not identify the origin of the seed or plants offered. Community and wildlife records apply to the locations and conditions described.
Research notes & credits
USACE/ERDC fqadata — Chicago Region FQA 2017. Herman, B., Sliwinski, R. & Whitaker, S. (2017), Chicago Region FQA Calculator; distributed by USACE/ERDC in fqadata under CC0. Values may differ from Flora of the Chicago Region (2017). CC0 dedication. Retained for comparison; the displayed C-value follows Flora database 80.
Range data: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 4 June 2026 release, accessed 7 September 2026. © The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. CC BY 3.0; selected and reformatted. Kew cannot warrant the quality or accuracy of these data. This use has no Kew endorsement.
Caterpillar host records: Shropshire, K.J. & Tallamy, D.W. (2025), Lepidoptera of North America, Supplement 1. Contains information from this database made available under the Open Database License (ODbL 1.0). Natural Communities selected species-level records and screened source qualifications. The complete selection and transformation instructions for this page are available below under the same license.
Flora rating attribution: Kenneth Johnson (2018), Flora of the Chicago Region UFQA Database, following Gerould Wilhelm and Laura Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Individual rating facts are presented with original commentary; the calculator’s software license is not treated as a license for the underlying Flora publication.
Caterpillar research records
Plant: Acer saccharinum
Record scope: Host literature synthesis; no county nativity or local insect occurrence inferred.
Shropshire & Tallamy (2025) · Original research dataset · Reuse license: ODbL-1.0
| Plant names in the source | Source insect record IDs |
|---|---|
| Acer saccharinum | 200078, 200337, 200654, 200930, 201682, 202151, 202582, 204313, 204360, 207169, 208054, 208073, 209121, 210103, 210515, 211926 |
How these records were selected
To reproduce this selection, use the “UDELep May 2025” worksheet in the original research dataset.
- Match the insect record IDs above to column A (UDLepID). Within each table row, pair every listed insect ID with every listed source plant name.
- Use the first two words in column H for the insect’s scientific name, column E for its common name, and column AB for its source category.
- Treat the selected pairs as reported caterpillar host records. Keep all other source fields unchanged and outside this selected table. Include no other rows or host pairs.
- Group butterflies and skippers together, and the other categories as moths. Retain the source’s exotic-category labels and sort display names by scientific insect name.
Survey communities: Ebinger et al. (2006), Tables 1–12, Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin. CC BY 4.0; adapted as dated presence lists, with the source’s non-native records excluded from the displayed native lists.
Growing guidance: Illinois Extension — Keeping deer out of the yard and garden. Selected facts in original wording. General deer advice is not a species resistance rating.
Additional community records: Murphy, Phillippe & Ebinger (2021), Spring Bay Fen flora and vegetation. Selected facts and taxonomic links; source spellings and historical survey dates retained.
Plant Shipping & Care
Plant Shipping & Care
We want to ensure that our customers get what they want, a native backyard oasis. To do that, we need to follow a few simple guidelines and give you some information and pointers to make sure you get your plants delivered in a healthy state.
As a reminder, you will receive an email to confirm your pickup or shipping window just before the plants are ready. See Order Fulfillment below for seasonal fulfillment windows.
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Order Fulfilment - When Your Plants or Other Items Will Be Ready
We take orders all year long and seed is shipped all year, but we only provide the plants to you in certain fulfillment windows to ensure healthy plants.
Wholesale Orders
- Shipped or are Ready For Pick Up As Requested.
Retail & Website Orders
- Seed Typically Ships Out Within One Week Of Order All Year Long
- Typically, single species flats ship when ready, sometimes as soon as early to mid-April (depends on weather) through early-October.
- Mixed species kits are batched and shipped as indicated on the product page.
- If a plant order is placed while outside of the plant fulfillment window your plants will be reserved through your payment, however, the order will not be fulfilled and shipped until the following spring. We don't want to provide you plants when they won't be happy during the cold winter months.
- Early in the spring and later in the fall certain species may be dormant or partially dormant with brown leaves, however they will return to grow healthy next growing season.
- Your order may arrive in several different shipments.
- If certain plants within an order will not be available until a later date, we may choose to hold the full order until all are ready. In certain circumstances, we may choose to send them in two separate shipments
- Fulfillment is always dependent upon plant availability. We try our best but sometimes plants do not overwinter well and perish. If a plant is on back order you will receive an email indicating the estimated shipping date. If we can not provide the plant we will first notify you and give you an option of substitution or a refund of that individual species.
- Plants are typically only packaged and shipped on Mondays to ensure they do not sit in the harsh delivery facility for extended periods of time over the weekend. You will receive a confirmation email once your delivery has been shipped and to estimate your delivery date.
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Where We Ship
What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery
- Your plants will be packaged with the utmost care
- We will need to cut back certain plants prior to shipping. This seems counter-intuitive, however, the fewer leaves the less water the plants can lose during shipping, resulting in healthier plants for you. This also enables the plants to fit within the protective packaging and shipped safely.
Shipments
- Larger plant shipments will look similar to the picture below with a tray of your plants and a cardboard box to protect them during shipping.
What to Do With Your Plants After Receiving Your Delivery
- Unpack your order IMMEDIATELY
- Inspect for damage and report any issues immediately to Natives@NaturalCommunities.net
- Water your plants
- Install your plants as quickly as possible and water the entire garden area thoroughly
- If you cannot install your plants immediately
- Some plants may not be in a container, put them into some kind of a container such as a paper cup with loose soil until installation
- Make sure each plant is receiving the appropriate amount of light.
- Continue to water daily each morning and possibly again in the afternoon
- No additional fertilizer is needed
Seed Shipping & Care
Seed Shipping & Care
Seed ships all year and typically ships within a week of an order being placed.
We have attempted to put together some basic information regarding native seed installation, establishment, and maintenance. We hope you find it helpful. If you need further assistance on native seed establishment, please schedule a free consolation call here.
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