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Acer nigrum
Acer nigrum (Black Maple)
Size: large canopy, 75-100 ft; Twig: glossy, yellow-brown; Foliage:Emerge- early May - light green, summer - yellow green, autumn - golden yellow, orange to red, Drop - late September or early October; Flower: small clusters late April - early May before or with leaves, Fruit: paired samaras - late summer; Wildlife Value: very high - songbirds, upland ground birds, large and small mammals; Habitat: very shade tolerant.
Species Associate: American Linden, Sugar Maple, American Beech, American Hophornbeam, White Ash, American Hornbeam, Cucumber Magnolia, Tuliptree, Yellow Buckeye, White Oak, Northern Red Oak,
Similar: Sugar and Norway Maple, American Linden
Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
Size: large canopy, 75 - 100 ft; Twig: smooth becoming flaky, green red becoming bright red in winter; Foliage:Emerge- mid-late April - red green, summer - light green, autumn - usually crimson, Drop - late September; Flower: small clusters, late March, early April - early May before leaves, Fruit: paired samaras, late April - mid June with new leaves; Wildlife Value: very high - songbirds, water birds, small mammals, hoofed browsers; Habitat: shade tolerant.
Species Associate: (north) Gray Birch, Paper Birch, Black Spruce, Balsam Fir, Quaking Aspen, Black Ash
Similar: Silver Maple
Acer rubrum flowers
Acer spicatum
Acer spicatum (Mountain Maple)
Size: small understory, 20-35 ft.; Twig: bright red or greenish; Foliage:Emerge early May - light green, summer - bright green to yellow green, autumn - orange to bright red, Drop - early October; Flower: late May - early June after leaves, yellow green to yellow clusters; Fruit: mid July through mid September, paired, bright red or yellow; Wildlife Value: very high - songbirds, upland ground birds, small mammals, hoofed browsers; Habitat: shade tolerant.
Species Associate: Red, Striped and Sugar Maple, Paper Birch, Yellow Birch, Eastern White Pine, American Linden, Common Witch-hazel, Shadblow Serviceberry, Mountain Laurel.
Similar: Striped Maple, Cranberrybush Viburnum
Betula papyrifera (Paper Birch)
Size: small canopy, 50-75 ft.; Twig: smooth, shiny, red-brown to maroon, speckled white; Foliage:Emerge- Late April - bright green, summer - medium green, autumn - clear lemon yellow, Drop - mid- October; Flower: pencil like catkins, late April - early May after leaves, Fruit: August through early October; Wildlife Value: very high - songbirds, upland ground birds, small mammals, hoofed browsers; Habitat: very shade intolerant.
Species Associate: Balsam Fir, Black Spruce, Quaking Aspen,Yellow and Sweet Birch, Red Pine, Eastern White Pine, Pin Cherry, Eastern Arborvitae, Red Maple, Mountain Maple, American Hornbeam.
Similar: Quaking Aspen
Betula papyrifera
Amelanchier canadensis
Amelanchier canadensis (Shadblow Serviceberry)
Size: large understory, 35-50 ft.; Twig: gray with silvery gray exfoliating scales; Foliage:Emerge- Early May -silvery gray, summer - blue green, autumn - orange to dull red, Drop - mid- October; Flower: white, mid-April, before leaf emergence Fruit: berry - red to maroon purple, mid-June through mid July; Wildlife Value: high - songbirds, upland ground birds, small mammals, Habitat: very shade tolerant.
Species Associate: Sugar and Black Maple, American Linden, White Ash, American Hophornbeam, Northern Red Oak, Pagoda Dogwood, Leatherwood, American Hornbeam, Common Witch-hazel.
Similar: American Hornbeam, Common Chokecherry, Allegany Serviceberry
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