Maple Sugar

Sugar maples should be one of the most easily recognized native trees in Canada, as the leaf is on our flag! They also provide us with the ever-popular maple syrup, for which about 40 gallons of sap are required to make 1 gallon of syrup. 

In addition to producing sweet sap, sugar maples are excellent trees, with dark green leaves providing dense shade, small clusters of flowers in spring providing an early nectar source for pollinators, and wonderful fall foliage colours with the leaves turning shades of yellow, orange and red before dropping. 

Sugar maples grow best in full sun with consistently moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil. They will tolerate most soil types as long as drainage is good. If you have heavy, compacted soil, consider adding organic matter like compost or manure to help break up the soil and improve drainage.