Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum is a large deciduous tree reaching 25–40 meters in height with a broad, rounded crown and deeply furrowed bark in maturity. Leaves are palmately lobed with five distinct lobes and vivid autumn coloration. Native to northeastern North America, it grows in cool temperate forests on well-drained soils and is a keystone species in mixed hardwood ecosystems. The tree is also famous for sap production used in maple syrup, reflecting its high sugar content and seasonal physiological activity.

Sugar Maple has been central to North American material culture since pre-colonial times, when Indigenous peoples harvested sap for sweeteners and medicinal uses. During the industrial expansion of the 19th and 20th centuries, its exceptional hardness made it the preferred wood for factory floors, bowling alleys, and workbenches. In lutherie and fine woodworking, figured maple varieties became emblematic of craftsmanship, symbolizing both structural integrity and aesthetic refinement.