You might feel it in the air, a cooler hint of what’s to come. It’s the time of year when our gardens start to change to different kinds of beauty, a blaze of yellow, orange, red, and gold. Driving through the mountains or even down a suburban street in North Carolina during the fall, you will find that landscapes erupt into a leaf change show; oftentimes, it is the maple trees that are giving the main act.
In the fall, we hear, “What’s that tree with the amazing red leaves?” More often than not, the answer is a maple. While the world boasts over 125 species of maples, many of them native to distant lands, we’re lucky enough to have a few stunning varieties that call North Carolina home. These are the color-changing shade trees of our landscape, which make a canvas of color in the fall. For any homeowner looking to make a lasting impact on their property, a native maple is a great place to start.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
When folks come in asking for a “red maple,” they’re often envisioning the glorious, scarlet display they saw in the fall. You can easily spot a Red Maple by its green leaves in the spring and summer that change to red in the fall. The leaves have red stems year-round. Unlike some of its relatives, the Red Maple’s leaves are tri-lobed, with a V-shape where the lobes meet, and the edges are finely saw-toothed. The undersides of the leaves are a soft, pale green.
One of the best things about this tree from a home garden perspective is its incredible adaptability. It’s not picky about soil, thrives in a variety of conditions, and grows at a surprisingly fast rate, providing quick shade for a new home. While its fall color is legendary for being a brilliant red, you might notice some years it leans more toward orange or even a buttery yellow. This is simply nature at work; year to year, the color can fluctuate. The combination of moisture levels and frosty nights determines the final shade of the Red Maple in the fall.
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Not as common as the Red Maple in our yards, it’s one you would find towering in old groves or in the higher elevations of Western North Carolina. If you’re looking for a tree that will become the living, breathing heart of your property for generations, this is it.
The Sugar Maple is easily identifiable by its leaves, which feature five distinct, shallow lobes. The edges are smooth, not saw-toothed, and the underside is a slightly paler green, often with a whisper of fuzziness that feels soft to the touch. This tree’s foliage is the quintessential symbol of fall, a mix of oranges, yellows, and deep, fiery reds that feel like they’re lit from within.
Of course, we can’t talk about the Sugar Maple without mentioning the most delicious part of its heritage: maple syrup. The story goes that Native Americans first taught early settlers how to tap these trees for their sap. While it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry today, there are still small operations in the mountains of our state that continue the tradition. For the home DIY enthusiast, it’s a fascinating thought that the tree providing shade in your yard could one day yield its own sweet nectar. Just be prepared to be patient! A tree typically needs to be close to 40 years old before it can be tapped, and it takes an incredible 32 gallons of sap to produce just one gallon of maple syrup.
Bringing a Maple Home: Your DIY Guide
Adding a native North Carolina tree makes a huge impact to the landscape and the surrounding wildlife. It’s a project you’ll feel proud of for years to come. Here is a simple plan:
- Choose a spot. Maples need a lot of space to spread their roots and their canopy. Consider overhead lines, septic tanks, and the foundation of your home. Give your tree room to breathe and grow.
- Plant it. The hole should be twice as wide as the tree’s root ball but only as deep as the root ball itself. You never want to plant a tree too deeply.
- Water, water, water. This is the most crucial step in the first year. A young maple needs consistent moisture to establish its roots. A good, slow watering once a week (more during a drought) will make all the difference. Adding a layer of mulch around the base will help hold in that moisture and reduce the competition from grass and weeds.
Planting a maple tree is more than just a home improvement project. It’s a gift to the future, a chance to connect with the nature of our state, and fun of playing a part in the change of the seasons.