Sugar maple leaves are usually three to six inches across with five distinct lobes separated by shallow rounded sinuses. The delicate yellow-green flowers appear in late April to early May before the leaves unfurl to hide the developing samaras. A variety of insects find sugar maple tempting, but health monitoring studies have shown the vigorous tree to be remarkably resilient to all but the most intense attacks of native pests. Sugar maple s valuable wood is heavy and durable enough for flooring and other rugged uses. Wood color ranges from creamy to reddish, and some individual trees exhibit attractive, unusual grains such as curly or birdseye maple which are prized for furniture, cabinetry and bowls.
Maple firewood is superior for heating and cooking.
Of course, the sap is the basis for maple syrup and sugar, the production of which Vermont leads the nation. Sugar maple is popular as a shade and ornamental tree, but does poorly along paved streets and highways due to its sensitivity to road salt. The fall leaf color ranges from yellow to red, with warm orange being the most common tint. Many wildlife species also value the sugar maple. The large limbs of older trees often decay before the trunk, leaving den holes to shelter a wide variety of birds and animals.