The flowers of hard maple are 1/4 inch long, greenish yellow, born on clusters 1-3" in length, occurring before the leaves appear in the early spring. The secondary buds are only about 1/2 as long as the terminal buds. The buds are long and sharp pointed, cone-shaped, 3/16-1/4 inch long and gray-brown in color. The leaf scars are V-shaped, with 3 visible bundle scars. Winter twigs are moderate in diameter, light brown to orange brown in color, often with a pale waxy coating. The leaves are dull, dark green on the upper surface and lighter, yellow green below. The leaf margin is mostly entire with only 1-2 pairs of teeth per lobe. Hard maple is characterized by having opposite, simple leaves, 3-6" long with 3-5 lobes. Hard maple is one of Iowa's important commercial species as well as one of the most spectacular trees for beauty and fall color. Site requirements vary with the species of maple. Site Requirements: Maple trees perform best in moist, well-drained soils. Height: Mature height varies with species. Tree canopies may be very dense or wide spreading. Mature Shape: Maples typically have a large, rounded crown. Slower growing maples have heavier, harder wood, making them less susceptible to branch and limb drop. Maples that are fast growing tend to have weak wood and may suffer from wind and ice damage. When selecting a maple tree, be sure to select a species suited for Iowa’s weather. Most fall into zones 4 through 8, but some are less tolerant of cold or heat than others. Five species are found growing native in Iowa: boxelder, mountain maple, black maple, sugar maple, and silver maple. The silver maple is the most common, and was used widely by the early settlers for planting in groves about their farmsteads. Red maple is widely planted as an ornamental and may be native in Allamakee County. The maples are among our most important timber trees.
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