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Chalk Maple

Acer leucoderme

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in rocky slopes and bluffs, particularly over mafic or calcareous rock, on the Gulf Coast in floodplains. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

85
Keystone

Native to Louisiana. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 94%

Height
Usually up to about 30 feet, sometimes taller
Light
Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Somewhat dry to moist
Will it fit your yard?

Rare or protected plant. Specialist conservation planting; excluded from routine garden suggestions. Plant caution source

Hidden from default planting suggestions. Wildlife value and native status remain unchanged.

At a glance

Life cycle
Woody perennial
Leaves
Deciduous
Bloom
March to April
Fruiting season
May to September

Not yet recorded · Spread

Recorded in 9 Louisiana parishes.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 3

Glades, barrens and outcrops on limestone

Open, thin-soil openings and rock on limestone, dolomite or other lime-rich rock, including cedar glades.

Glades, barrens and outcrops on mafic or serpentine rock

Open, thin-soil openings, outcrops and cliffs on dark, magnesium- or iron-rich rock such as serpentine, diabase or gabbro.

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Louisiana. Shared habitat, not food. 118 animals.

All wildlife of Louisiana

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

170CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including LA

Genus host records with ranges including LA · Acer

  • Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
  • Automeris ioIo Moth
  • Eacles imperialisImperial Moth
  • Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Moth
  • Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
  • Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
  • Acleris chalybeanaLesser Maple Leafroller Moth
  • Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
  • Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
  • Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
Show all 170
  • Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
  • Acronicta retardataBantam Maple Dagger, Retarded Dagger
  • Actias lunaLuna Moth
  • Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
  • Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
  • Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
  • Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
  • Ancylis platananaSycamore Leafroller
  • Anisota senatoriaOrange-Tipped Oakworm Moth, Orangestriped Oakworm
  • Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
  • Antepione thisoariaVariable Antepione
  • Apatelodes torrefactaSpotted Apatelodes
  • Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
  • Archips semiferanusOak Leafroller Moth
  • Argyresthia subreticulataSpeckled Argyresthia Moth
  • Argyrotaenia quercifolianaYellow-Winged Oak Leafroller Moth, Lined Oak Leafroller
  • Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
  • Baileya ophthalmicaEyed Baileya
  • Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
  • Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
  • Caloptilia bimaculatellaMaple Caloptilia
  • Catocala micronymphaLittle Nymph
  • Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
  • Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
  • Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
  • Cenopis niveanaAproned Cenopis Moth
  • Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
  • Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
  • Chaetaglaea sericeaSilky Sallow
  • Charadra deridensThe Laugher
  • Choristoneura fractivittanaBroken-Banded Leafroller, Lined Corn-Borer Moth
  • Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
  • Clostera inclusaAngle-Lined Prominent, Poplar Tent Maker, Poplar Leaf-Tier
  • Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
  • Colocasia propinquilineaClosebanded Yellowhorn
  • Dasychira tephraTephra Tussock Moth
  • Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
  • Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
  • Dryocampa rubicundaRosy Maple Moth, Green-Striped Mapleworm, Rosy Dryocampa
  • Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
  • Elaphria chalcedoniaChalcedony Midget
  • Elaphria exesaExesa Midget
  • Elaphria festivoidesSouthern Festive Midget
  • Elaphria versicolorVariegated Midget
  • Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
  • Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
  • Episimus tyriusMaple Tip Borer
  • Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
  • Eubaphe mendicaThe Beggar
  • Euchlaena amoenariaDeep Yellow Euchlaena
  • Eucirroedia pampinaScalloped Sallow
  • Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
  • Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
  • Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
  • Gesta juvenalisJuvenal's Duskywing
  • Glena cognatariaBlueberry Gray
  • Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
  • Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
  • Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
  • Herpetogramma pertextalisBold-Feathered Grass Moth
  • Herpetogramma thestealisZigzag Herpetogramma, Subtle-Feathered Grass Moth
  • Heterocampa pulvereaWhite-Blotched Heterocampa
  • Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
  • Hypena baltimoralisBaltimore Bomolocha, Baltimore Snout
  • Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
  • Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
  • Iridopsis defectariaBrown-Shaded Gray, Willow Looper
  • Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
  • Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
  • Isa textulaCrowned Slug
  • Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
  • Laetilia coccidivoraScale-Feeding Snout
  • Lambdina fervidariaCurve-Lined Looper Moth
  • Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
  • Lambdina pellucidariaYellow-Headed Looper, Eastern Pine Looper
  • Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
  • Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
  • Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
  • Lithophane patefactaDiomorphic Pinion, Branded Pinion
  • Lochmaeus manteoVariable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
  • Lomographa vestaliataWhite Spring Moth
  • Lytrosis sinuosaSinuous Lytrosis
  • Lytrosis unitariaCommon Lytrosis
  • Macaria aemulatariaCommon Angle
  • Macaria pustulariaLesser Maple Spanworm Moth
  • Macrurocampa marthesiaMottled Prominent
  • Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
  • Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
  • Megalopyge crispataBlack-Waved Flannel Moth, Crinkled Flannel Moth
  • Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
  • Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
  • Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
  • Metaxaglaea viaticaRoadside Sallow
  • Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
  • Nadata gibbosaWhite-Dotted Prominent
  • Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
  • Nemoria lixariaRed-Bordered Emerald
  • Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
  • Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
  • Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
  • Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
  • Oiketicus abbotiiAbbot's Bagworm Moth
  • Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Orthosia alurinaGray Quaker
  • Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
  • Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
  • Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
  • Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
  • Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
  • Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
  • Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
  • Papaipema cataphractaBurdock Border, Potato-Stalk Borer
  • Papaipema furcataAsh-Tip Borer
  • Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
  • Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
  • Parallelia bistriarisMaple Looper Moth
  • Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
  • Peridea basitriensOval-Based Prominent
  • Pero ancetariaHubner's Pero
  • Phaeoura quernariaOak Beauty Moth
  • Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
  • Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
  • Phlogophora periculosaBrown Angle Shades
  • Phobetron pitheciumHag Moth, Monkey Slug
  • Plagodis alcoolariaHollow-Spotted Plagodis
  • Plagodis fervidariaFervid Plagodis
  • Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
  • Pococera asperatellaMaple Webworm
  • Prionoxystus macmurtreiLittle Carpenterworm, Lesser Oak Carpenter Worm
  • Prionoxystus robiniaeCarpenterworm Moth, Black Locust Borer, Cottonwood Borer
  • Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
  • Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
  • Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
  • Proteoteras aesculanaMaple Seed Caterpillar, Maple Twig Borer
  • Proteoteras moffatianaMaple Bud Borer, Maple Shoot Borer
  • Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
  • Psaphida resumensFigure-Eight Sallow
  • Psaphida styracisFawn Sallow
  • Pseudexentera spolianaBare-Patched Leafroller
  • Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
  • Psilocorsis cryptolechiellaBlack-Fringed Leaftier
  • Psilocorsis reflexellaDotted Leaftier Moth
  • Pyrrharctia isabellaIsabella Tiger Moth, Banded Woolybear
  • Rifargia subrotataSmall Heterocampa
  • Satyrium calanusBanded Hairstreak, Falacer Hairstreak
  • Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
  • Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
  • Strepsicrates smithianaBayberry Leaftier
  • Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
  • Synanthedon acerniMaple Callus Borer Moth
  • Tetracis crocallataYellow Slant-Line
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
  • Tortricidia pallidaRed-Cross Button Slug
  • Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
  • Zale galbanataMaple Zale, Boxelder Zale
  • Zale lunataLunate Zale
  • Zale minereaColorful Zale
  • Zanclognatha cruralisEarly Zanclognatha, Early Fan-Foot
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
15BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Acer

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
7BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Acer

  • Aix sponsaWood Duck
  • Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
  • Cardinalis cardinalisNorthern Cardinal
  • Coccothraustes vespertinusEvening Grosbeak
  • Ectopistes migratoriusPassenger Pigeon
  • Pheucticus ludovicianusRose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Sapindaceae
Hardiness
Zones 5a–9b
Flower color
Yellow or green
Fruit begins
May
Fruit ends
September
Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Acer saccharum ssp. leucoderme

Conservation status

Louisiana rankS2
Global rankG5
LA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

Will it fit your yard?

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Sources