Tour Detail

Background
History

The sugar maple has dark green leaves with five distinct lobes that turn to beautiful yellow, burnt orange and red colors in fall. The tree produces small, greenish-yellow flowers in groups that curve downward on long, delicate stems in April and May. It also yields pairs of winged seeds. Sugar maples are commonly browsed by white-tailed deer and squirrels.

The sugar maple has a unique and popular history. In 1663, chemist Robert Boyle informed the Europeans about a tree in the New World that produced a sweet substance. John Smith was one of the first settlers to remark about the Native Americans’ sugar processing and trade of this. Native Americans also used the inner bark to make a tea to treat coughs and sickness. Other historic uses include making soap from its ashes and dye from its bark. In 2001, Barry Bonds switched from the traditional ash wood baseball bat to one made of maple and hit a new record of 73 home runs. Evidently, the sugar maple has many uses.