Size of a Silver Maple Leaf

Silver maples turn gold in the fall.

The United States Forest Service indicates that the silver maple is also commonly referred to as soft maple, river maple, silverleaf maple, swamp maple, water maple and white maple. The leaves grow to a considerable size.

Identification

The silver maple tree, Acer saccharinum, produces leaves that are three or five lobed, with deep margins and sharp teeth. The North Dakota State University Department of Agriculture reports that silver maple leaves grow to a length of between 3 and 6 inches and a width of 2 to 5 inches.

Color

The foliage takes on a light green color on the top of the leaf and a silver hue below during the summer, then turns to a pale yellow or gold shade in the fall. Silver maple leaves arrange themselves opposite each other along the twigs of the tree and contain deep sinuses.

Pests

Penn State University's College of Agricultural Sciences says that the size and succulent flesh of the silver maple leaf attracts insects like the small eriophyid mites of the family Eriophyidae. The maple bladdergall mite and maple spindle gall mite feed on the leaf, causing a condition known as leaf gall.

References

• North Dakota State University Department of Agriculture: A Guide to Deciduous Tree Knowledge
• United States Forest Service: SIlver Maple
• Penn State University: Leaf Gall on Maple