What Is a Hard Maple Tree As Compared to a Soft Maple Tree?

Sugar maple trees are considered hard maples.

Maples (Acer spp.) are some of the most common trees in North America. The wood is used for furniture, flooring and household utensils. Woodworkers and gardeners alike are sometimes confused by the differences between the terms soft and hard maple.

Soft Maples

Two species of maple are considered soft maples, the silver maple (A. saccharinum) and the red maple (A. rubrum). The fast growth rate of these species produces wood that is lighter and more pliable than that of slower-growing maples. According to the University of Georgia's website, soft maple cuts easier than hard maple but has no resistance to decay.

Hard Maples

All other species of maple are considered hard maples. One commonly grown hard maple is the American sugar maple, A. saccharum. This large tree grows only about 1 foot per year, resulting in densely grained, heavy wood that is ideal for flooring, cutting boards and rolling pins

Growing Considerations

The soft, fast-growing wood of soft maples makes them susceptible to insects, disease and damage from storms. Silver maples are especially prone to ice damage. In addition, the bark on soft maples is thin and easily damaged by lawn mowers. Hard maples, such as the sugar maple, are strong trees and are much less susceptible to pest or storm damage, according to Clemson University's website.

References

• University of Georgia: Commonly Confused Wood Species Groups
• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Maple
• Purdue University Extension: Soft Maple