Identifying Hard Maple/Soft Maple on the stump.

Old_Hickory · Oct 27, 2003

What is the difference in appearance of a Hard maple versus Soft maple tree on the stump. I was told to scratch the bark off of the tree and if it was red colored underneath the bark it was a soft maple. Do you agree ?

sugarmaker · Oct 27, 2003

Hi Col. Jackson,

Not sure I understand, but if you're trying to identify a stump, I can't help much.

If you're trying to identify a standing tree, I can help a bit. I've got 3 or 4 general rules for separating Sugar Maples from their local cousins (red, silver, swamp, striped; collectively known as "soft" maples here).

Perhaps you can describe what you're trying to do, and I can focus a better answer.

Old_Hickory · Oct 27, 2003

Sorry about the confusion,I just need a good way to distinguish the difference between the 2 different types of trees prior to cutting one down.

Thanks

sugarmaker · Oct 28, 2003

Ah, got it. If you can still get a leaf from each tree, that is the best way. A sugar maple leaf will have U-shaped valleys (sinuses) between the 5 points ("lobes"), kind of like the valleys between your fingers. A red maple leaf will have V-shaped sinuses.

If you can't get a leaf, there are some other general rules:
1) Buds: red maple buds are red and obviously large on the end of the twigs this time of year. Sugar maple buds are tiny right now and won't swell till the late spring.
2) Twigs: look up through the crown of the tree. The smallest twigs on a red maple will have a gently curving and branching pattern. The sugar maple twigs will be much more angular, kind of like a witch's fingers.
3) Clusters: red maples grow in clusters of multiple trunks from a single base much more often than do sugar maples.
4) Bulls-eyes: red maples over about 12" in diameter often develop a patches of bark that look circular with radial cracks. These patches may be 8-12" in diameter. Sugar maples don't have them.

Also, give this web site a try.

Good luck!