Are Sugar Maple Trees Deciduous or Coniferous?

Deciduous Versus Coniferous

• Deciduous trees, such as maples and oaks, drop their leaves in the fall and remain dormant throughout the winter. New buds and leaves emerge with spring's warmer temperatures and increasing sunlight; the rate of growth for new foliage depends on climate and weather conditions. Coniferous or "evergreen" trees, such as pines and spruces, are those that bear cones and hold their needles over the winter. There are also some trees that resemble conifers with their needle-like foliage, but the leaves drop at the end of the growing season.

Maple Tree Varieties

• Maple trees vary in species and colors; some may grow to nearly 150 feet. Smaller to medium species of maples, which grow up to 45 feet high, include Amur, Paperbark, Japanese, Tatarian and Hedge. Sugar, Red, Silver and Norway maple trees grow often higher than 45 feet. Maple trees drop leaves of golden and light yellows, deep oranges and reds, pale greens and brown-like purples during the autumn months. Weather conditions determine when the trees will be at their peak color before the leaves drop.

Sugar Maple Trees (Acer Saccharum)

• Native to the United States, Sugar maple trees are popular for backyard shade. They grow best in full sunlight and can reach up to 75 feet high depending on the light and soil conditions. Sugar maples have green leaves that turn red, orange and yellow in the autumn. All maple trees produce sap that can make make syrups and candy, however, the sap from Sugar and Black maples is the best because of the high sugar content.

Maple Sugaring and Syrup

• Maple sugar season begins in the late winter or early spring when commercial producers and hobbyists tap the trees for sap. Producers drill "tap holes" into the trees, insert collecting spouts and guide the sap so that it drips into buckets or bags. Producers then boil the sap to increase its sugar content and turn it to syrup. The maple syrup is processed to make sugar, candy, cream, flavoring and other confections.