Acer floridanum (Chapm.) Pax

Florida Maple

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Florida Maple is a medium-sized native deciduous tree in the Maple family (Aceraceae). It can be found in most of Alabama. It grows in hardwood bottomlands, mesic hardwood forests, on slopes, and in ravines. It is medium sized tree reaching heights of 45-65 feet. The bark is smooth on young trees and slightly furrowed on older trees. The bark is light gray in color. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, and palmately 3-5 lobed. The leaves are dark green and glabrous above and glaucous and pubescent below. The leaves turn shades of yellow, orange, or red before falling. Flowers are produced in fascicles on short shoots. The flowers are small and yellowish green in color. The fruit is a samara. Florida Maple has variously been treated either as a species or as a sub-species or variety of the Sugar Maple (as Acer saccharum Marshall ssp. floridanum (Chapm.) Desmarais or as Acer saccharum Marshall var. floridanum (Chapman) Small & A. Heller). There was also confusion on the correct name to apply at the species level, with Acer barbatum Michaux being used for many years (this name is still used in some publications). In 2004 Daniel Ward concluded that Michaux’s specimens were typical Sugar Maple and therefore the name Acer barbatum Michaux was a later synonym of that species. Thus, the name Acer floridanum is the correct name for the Florida Maple at the species level. Florida Maple is an attractive and versatile tree for the home landscape. It is more heat tolerant than typical Sugar Maple, but still provides a vivid fall color display. Florida Maple prefers a rich loamy soil and full to partial sun. Care should be taken to protect the trunk of the tree from damage by weed eaters or lawn mowers.--A. Diamond

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Native G4 (Global Rank)

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