Though other maple tree saps can be used in syrup production, sugar maple sap is most preferred due to the higher concentration of sugar. On the average, it takes 40-50 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of maple syrup---hence the syrup’s high cost.
The sugar maple tree can become a large tree. When growing in the wild, the tree can attain heights of 60-100 feet with a good clean trunk, which makes the tree all the more valuable for commercial use. With densely packed tree cells, sugar maple wood is considered a hard wood and has many commercial uses particularly for flooring and furniture.
However, when planted in the home landscape, parks, or on residential boulevards, the tree develops a more oval shape with lower limbs. Compared to other maple trees, the sugar maple would be considered a slow growing tree.
As discussed earlier, a cultivar is a plant (in this case a tree) that is selectively and maintained through human cultivation. Sugar maple tree cultivars have been developed specifically for use in the home landscape and the plant breeders own plant patents to the varieties they have developed.
There are many nurseries promoting sugar maple cultivars that have been cultivated for their fall colors, tree shape, and more rapid growth and drought tolerance compared to the parent tree. These sugar maple varieties can be located either at your local garden center, nurseries, or on-line.
Some of the better known Sugar Maple cultivars are:
- Green Mountain (Acer saccharum ‘Green Mountain’)
- Adirondak TM (Acer saccharum ‘Adirzam’)
- Fairview (Acer saccharum ‘Fairview’)
Acknowledgement:
Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00000031
11/12/99
http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modzz/00000031.html
University of Minnesota Extension Services Maple Series (2009) Carl Vogt
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/DD6286.html
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