Maple trees are some of the most beautiful and multi-functional trees in North America. Some of these trees yield syrup, while others provide lovely autumn views. The state of Virginia is home to several varieties of maple trees. Virginia includes USDA hardiness zones 5a through 8a. Read on to learn about the best maple trees in Virginia.
Maple trees Virginia
Here are four varieties of maple tree that do well in Virginia:
Sugar Maple
The Sugar Maple, also known as Acer saccharum, is one of the main trees behind maple syrup. Some other names include hard maple and rock maple. Compared to other trees, this maple is a good choice if you need a tree in a shady area. You can plant it in full sun to full shade. However, this tree does not do well in polluted environments.
Leaves on this tree have either three or five lobes. They start at a medium green color in spring and summer before developing a light orange color in the autumn. Under the right conditions, this tree can grow between 50 and 80 feet tall. They do well in zones three through eight.
Red Maple
Known as Acer rubrum, Red Maple, is red through and through. Besides its showy red fall foliage, this tree also produces red buds in spring, red twigs, and red seeds. The leaves usually have three lobes. However, they sometimes have five lobes.
If you are in other areas of the country or Canada, you may know this tree by its other names. These include soft maple, scarlet maple, Carolina red maple, water maple, trident red maple, and swamp maple. Whatever you call it, this tree can grow between 30 and 100 feet. This tree grows well in zones two through nine.
Silver Maple
The Silver Maple’s scientific name is Acer saccharinum. It gets its name from the silver underside of its leaves. These trees are some of the most widespread maples throughout North America. They grow very quickly compared to other maples. If you grow this tree on your property, be aware of seeds, since they can take to your yard easily.
Enjoy the spectrum of warm colors in the autumn foliage. The leaves can turn anywhere from red to orange to yellow. This tree can grow to between 50 and 100 feet tall. It grows best in full sun and USDA zones three to nine.
When you travel to other areas of this tree’s region of growth, you may see it given other names. These names include white maple, river maple, soft maple, creek maple, and water maple.
Striped Maple
While many maples are primarily known for the color of their foliage, the Striped Maple is also known for its distinctive bark as a young tree. The bark is green with textured white stripes along the length of the tree.
The scientific name for this tree is Acer pensylvanicum. It is also known as a Snakewood Maple and Moosewood Maple. The first name comes from the design of the bark, while the other name comes from the popularity of this bark as food amongst moose, deer, beavers, and rabbits.
Unlike many other maples, this variety enjoys at least partial shade. It can grow to a height of about 25 feet. It grows in USDA zones three to seven. So, it can grow throughout most of Virginia.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know all about the variety of maples you can find in Virginia, see which maples you can identify near you. If you are looking for a tree for your garden, you may even want to choose one of these options for your home. States such as Virginia and Illinois are great places for maples. Therefore, you can not go wrong when choosing your maple.