Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
86
Keystone
Native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?
Profile 88%
- Height
- About 100 feet
- Spread
- 30–60 feet
- Light
- Partial sun, Full sun
- Soil moisture
- Moderate
Space about 30 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count
Will it fit your yard?
At a glance
- Life cycle
- Perennial
- Leaves
- Deciduous
- Bloom
- Mid spring
- Fruiting season
- Summer to fall
Recorded in 63 Virginia counties.
Also found with this plant
Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 148 animals.
- Blue GrosbeakPasserina caerulea
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- Brown CreeperCerthia americana
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Common RavenCorvus corax
- Downy WoodpeckerPicoides pubescens
- Fox SparrowPasserella iliaca
- Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa
- Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensis
- Hairy WoodpeckerPicoides villosus
- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- Northern FlickerColaptes auratus
- Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Pine SiskinCarduelis pinus
- Purple FinchCarpodacus purpureus
- Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus
- White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis
- Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
- Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula
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Ecological relationships
Who uses this plant?
279CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA
Genus host records with ranges including VA · 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
- Acleris negundanaSpeckled Acleris
- Acleris semiannulaHalf-Ringed Acleris
- Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
Show all 279
- Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
- Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
- Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
- Acronicta ovataOvate Dagger, Epauleted Oak Dagger
- Acronicta retardataBantam Maple Dagger, Retarded Dagger
- Actias lunaLuna Moth
- Adoxophyes negundanaShimmering Adoxophyes Moth
- Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
- Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
- Anaplectoides prasinaGreen Arches Dart
- Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Ancylis platananaSycamore Leafroller
- Anisota senatoriaOrange-Tipped Oakworm Moth, Orangestriped Oakworm
- Anisota virginiensisPink-striped Oakworm Moth
- Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
- Antepione thisoariaVariable Antepione
- Apamea amputatrixYellow-Headed Cutworm Moth
- Apatelodes torrefactaSpotted Apatelodes
- Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
- Archips cerasivoranaCherry Tent Caterpillar, Cherry Worm, Ugly Nest Caterpillar
- Archips negundanaLarger Boxelder Leafroller Moth
- Archips semiferanusOak Leafroller Moth
- Argyresthia subreticulataSpeckled Argyresthia Moth
- Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
- Argyrotaenia quercifolianaYellow-Winged Oak Leafroller Moth, Lined Oak Leafroller
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
- Baileya ophthalmicaEyed Baileya
- Besma endropiariaStraw Besma
- Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
- Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
- Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
- Caloptilia bimaculatellaMaple Caloptilia
- Caloptilia packardellaPackard's Caloptilia
- Cameraria aceriellaMaple Leafblotch Miner
- Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
- Catastega aceriellaMaple Trumpet Skeletonizer
- Catocala cerogamaYellow-Banded Underwing
- Catocala micronymphaLittle Nymph
- Catocala palaeogamaOldwife Underwing
- Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
- Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
- Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
- Cenopis mesospilaWhite-Tailed Fruitworm Moth
- Cenopis niveanaAproned Cenopis Moth
- Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
- Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
- Cepphis armatariaScallop Moth
- Chaetaglaea sericeaSilky Sallow
- Charadra deridensThe Laugher
- Chionodes obscurusellaBoxelder Leafworm Moth
- Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
- Choristoneura fractivittanaBroken-Banded Leafroller, Lined Corn-Borer Moth
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Cladara atroliturataThe Scribbler
- Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
- Clostera inclusaAngle-Lined Prominent, Poplar Tent Maker, Poplar Leaf-Tier
- Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
- Colocasia flavicornisYellowhorn, Saddled Yellowhorn
- Colocasia propinquilineaClosebanded Yellowhorn
- Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
- Cydia candanaMaple Seedworm Moth
- Dasychira dorsipennataSharp-Lined Tussock Moth
- Dasychira obliquataStreaked Tussock Moth
- Dasychira plagiataNorthern Conifer Tussock Moth
- Dasychira tephraTephra Tussock Moth
- Dasychira vagansVariable Tussock Moth
- Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
- Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
- Dryocampa rubicundaRosy Maple Moth, Green-Striped Mapleworm, Rosy Dryocampa
- Dysstroma truncataMarbled Carpet
- Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
- Elaphria alapallidaPale-Winged Midget, Northern Festive Midget
- Elaphria chalcedoniaChalcedony Midget
- Elaphria versicolorVariegated Midget
- Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
- Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
- Epiglaea declivaSloping Sallow
- Episimus tyriusMaple Tip Borer
- Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
- Eubaphe mendicaThe Beggar
- Euchlaena amoenariaDeep Yellow Euchlaena
- Euchlaena irrariaLeast-Marked Euchlaena
- Euchlaena serrataThe Saw-Wing
- Eucirroedia pampinaScalloped Sallow
- Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
- Eugonobapta nivosariaSnowy Geometer
- Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
- Eupsilia cirripaleaFranclemont's Sallow
- Eupsilia morrisoniMorrison's Sallow
- Eupsilia sidusSidus Sallow
- Eupsilia tristigmataThree-Spotted Sallow, Brown Fruitworm
- Eupsilia vinulentaStraight-Toothed Sallow
- Eurois occultaGreat Grey Dart, Great Brocade
- Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Euxoa messoriaReaper Dart, Darksided Cutworm, Dark-Sided Cutworm
- Euxoa tessellataTessellate Dart, Striped Cutworm
- 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
- Heterophleps triguttariaThree-Spotted Fillip
- Homorthodes furfurataNorthern Scurfy Quaker
- Hydrelia inornataUnadorned Carpet
- 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
- Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
- Isa textulaCrowned Slug
- Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
- Korscheltellus gracilisConifer Swift Moth, Graceful Ghost Moth
- Lacanobia subjunctaSpeckled Arches, Subdues Arches, Harnessed Mamestra, Speckled Cutworm Moth, Grand Arches?(incorrectly)
- 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 groteiGrote's Pinion, Green Fruit Worm
- Lithophane heminaHemina Pinion
- Lithophane innominataNameless Pinion
- Lithophane patefactaDiomorphic Pinion, Branded Pinion
- Lithophane petulcaWanton Pinion
- Lithophane semiustaSinged Pinion
- Lithophane unimodaDowdy Pinion
- Lochmaeus manteoVariable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
- Lomographa vestaliataWhite Spring Moth
- Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
- Lophocampa maculataSpotted Tussock Moth, Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth
- Lyonetia prunifoliellaStriped Bent-wing
- Lytrosis sinuosaSinuous Lytrosis
- Lytrosis unitariaCommon Lytrosis
- Macaria aemulatariaCommon Angle
- Macaria ulsterataBirch Angle, Peacock Moth
- Macaria pustulariaLesser Maple Spanworm Moth
- Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier 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
- Melanchra adjunctaHitched Arches
- Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
- Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
- Metanema determinataDark Metanema
- Metaxaglaea viaticaRoadside Sallow
- Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
- Morrisonia latexFluid Arches, Fluid Mamestra
- Nadata gibbosaWhite-Dotted Prominent
- Natada nasoniNason's Slug Moth
- Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
- Nemoria lixariaRed-Bordered Emerald
- Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
- Nites betulellaBlackdotted Birch Leaftier
- Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
- Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
- Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
- Oiketicus abbotiiAbbot's Bagworm Moth
- Olethreutes appendiceumServiceberry Leafroller
- Olethreutes nitidanaShining Olethreutes
- Oreana unicolorellaLadder-Marked Caterpillar
- Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
- Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
- Orthosia alurinaGray Quaker
- Orthosia garmaniGarman's Quaker
- Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Orthosia revictaSubdued Quaker
- Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
- Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
- Pachypolia atricornisThree-Horned Sallow
- Packardia elegansElegant Tailed Slug
- Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
- Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
- Pandemis canadanaGreen Aspen Leaftier
- Pandemis lamprosanaWoodgrain Leafroller
- 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
- Paraclemensia acerifoliellaMaple Leafcutter, Maple Case-Bearer
- Parallelia bistriarisMaple Looper Moth
- Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
- Peridea basitriensOval-Based Prominent
- Pero ancetariaHubner's Pero
- Pero morrisonariaMorrison's Pero
- Phaeoura quernariaOak Beauty Moth
- Phiaris glacianaFrosted Olethreutes
- 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
- Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
- Plagodis alcoolariaHollow-Spotted Plagodis
- Plagodis fervidariaFervid Plagodis
- Plagodis phlogosariaStraight-Lined Plagodis
- Plagodis pulverariaAmerican Barred Umber, Barred Umber
- Plagodis serinariaLemon Plagodis
- Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
- Pococera asperatellaMaple Webworm
- Polia nimbosaStormy Arches
- Prionoxystus macmurtreiLittle Carpenterworm, Lesser Oak Carpenter Worm
- Prionoxystus robiniaeCarpenterworm Moth, Black Locust Borer, Cottonwood Borer
- Probole alienariaDogwood Probole, Alien Probole
- Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
- Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
- Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
- Proteoteras aesculanaMaple Seed Caterpillar, Maple Twig Borer
- Proteoteras crescentanaNorthern Boxelder Twigborer, Black-Crescent Proteoteras
- Proteoteras moffatianaMaple Bud Borer, Maple Shoot Borer
- Proteoteras willinganaBoxelder Twig Borer Moth, Negundo Twig Borer
- Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
- Psaphida resumensFigure-Eight Sallow
- Psaphida styracisFawn Sallow
- Pseudexentera spolianaBare-Patched Leafroller
- Pseudohermonassa bicarneaPink-Spotted Dart
- 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
- Selenia alcipheariaNorthern Selenia, Northern Thorn
- Selenia kentariaKent's Geometer
- Sicya maculariaSharp-Lined Yellow
- Sonia canadanaCanadian Sonia Moth
- Spaelotis clandestinaClandestine Dart, W-Marked Cutworm
- Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
- Spiramater lutraDarling Mamestra, Splashed Arches, Otter Spiramater, Otter Arches
- Strepsicrates smithianaBayberry Leaftier
- Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
- Symmerista leucitysOrange-Humped Mapleworm
- Synanthedon acerniMaple Callus Borer Moth
- Synanthedon acerrubriRed Maple Borer, Maple Clearwing
- Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
- Tetracis crocallataYellow Slant-Line
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
- Tortricidia flexuosaAbbreviated Button Slug Moth
- Tortricidia pallidaRed-Cross Button Slug
- Tortricidia testaceaEarly Button Slug
- Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer
- Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
- Xestia c-nigrumSpotted Cut-Worm, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lesser Black-letter Dart
- Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
- Xylena nuperaRed Swordgrass Moth, American Swordgrass Moth, False Armyworm
- Zale galbanataMaple Zale, Boxelder Zale
- Zale lunataLunate Zale
- Zale minereaColorful Zale
- Zanclognatha cruralisEarly Zanclognatha, Early Fan-Foot
- Zeiraphera claypoleanaBuckeye Petiole Borer
- Caloptilia umbratella
- Carmenta corni
- Coleophora alniella
- Eupithecia swettii
- Herpetogramma aquilonalis
- Trypanisma prudens
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
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 3–8
- Flower color
- Green
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Growth habit
- Single stem
- Foliage color
- Green
- Fruit begins
- Summer
- Fruit ends
- Fall
What its natural habitat tells you
Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “Mid spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Flower color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs) · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit ends · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth habit · “Single stem” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth rate · “Slow” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Hardiness · “Zones 3–8” · Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
- Height · “About 100 feet” · USDA PLANTS (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differ) · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Leaves · “Deciduous” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Leaf retention · “Deciduous” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Life cycle · “Perennial” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Light · “Partial sun (minimum requirement); Full sun (minimum requirement)” · Virginia DCR Piedmont (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differ) · Virginia regional planting chart; sunlight is a minimum requirement, moisture is low/moderate/high
- Soil · “Moderate” · Virginia DCR Piedmont (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differ) · Virginia regional planting chart; sunlight is a minimum requirement, moisture is low/moderate/high
- Spread · “30–60 feet” · Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
Also known as
Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum
Conservation status
| Virginia rank | S5 |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5 |
| VA status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
In your garden
Will it fit your yard?
Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.
Choose a county to begin.
Sources
- Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- NatureServe Explorer
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications