Acer saccharinum

Also known as Creek Maple, Silverleaf Maple, Soft Maple, Water Maple

Silver maples are fast-growing native trees recognized by their deeply lobed leaves that shimmer silvery-white on the underside whenever stirred by a breeze. Thriving along riverbanks and floodplains, they produce massive crops of winged samaras in early spring that provide critical early forage for wildlife. Their soft wood makes them prone to storm damage, but they remain vital anchors of riparian ecosystems across eastern North America.