Why Maple Leaves Are Just as Important as Maple Trees

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It’s autumn and the maple trees are showing off their fall foliage all along the East Coast. They are a defining tree of an Eastern deciduous forest along with birch, hickory, beech, and oak. Sugar maples often turn brilliant orange while red maples end in scarlet. The maples trees shed their leaves to conserve energy and retain water over the long winter months. Meanwhile, overwintering larvae of moths and butterflies hide under bark fallen leaves. Most of the larvae are so tiny they remain undetectable. We’re lucky to spy a moth cocoon spun to look like a twig hanging from a branch. It’s great camouflage from hungry insect-eating birds. Maples are estimated to support almost 300 species of butterflies and moths. And, depending on the species of maple, the tree can live anywhere from 80 to 500 years.

While it’s tempting to rake up all the leaves that fall down to the trunk of a maple, that is the only place most pollinators overwinter: under a layer of fallen leaves. The warmth of the colorful leaf carpet keeps queen bumblebees and numerous butterfly and moth larvae safe from cold and predators. You’ll notice spring migrating birds tossing their beaks through leaves to find an insect to snack on. This is a good thing. It means your yard is a healthy habitat. So, keep the leaves under trees and shrubs even if you feel compelled to rake them off the lawn to fit in with the neighbors. Also, steer clear of pesticides, herbicides, and lawn fertilizers (most contain pollinator-killing poisons). On a side note, glyphosate, the key poison in many fertilizers and most herbicides not only kills pollinators, but harms trees. Keep those maples safe and go chemical-free!

Maples Native to the East Coast

We have seven species of maple including the lovely sugar maple responsible for maple syrup! We also have a lot of non-native Norway maples (considered invasive in many states), which are known to crowd out native trees. All the maples have samaras (winged fruits) that small mammals and birds eat. Maples are host plants to many pollinators including maple tip borer moth, maple bud borer moth, rosy maple moth, serviceberry leafroller moth, American dagger moth, banded tussock moth, cecropia moth, pale beauty moth, mourning cloak butterfly, and banded hairstreak butterfly. The trees’ spring blossoms also provide early pollinators a source of food while the weather is still cool.

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)

One of the best-known maples used for maple syrup. Its leaves turn vibrant yellow, orange, and red in fall. It makes a wonderful shade tree in suburban landscapes, but does not tolerate road salt, so do not plant it near roads or other paved surfaces that could harm the tree.

Red maple (Acer rubrum)

Also known as scarlet maple or swamp maple, this tree has brilliant red foliage in fall. It has shallow roots so is best not planted next to a driveway. It makes an excellent shade tree in suburban landscapes. 

Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

Often found near streams, the silver maple has been used to make maple syrup, as well. The tree’s leaves turn yellow in autumn. And it is a preferred nesting tree for Baltimore Orioles.

Striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum)

Easily confused with mountain maple, striped maples are named for the white stripes seen when the tree is a sapling. It is described as ‘shrubby,’ because it only grows to about 16 – 20 ft. tall. The leaves turn yellow in autumn.

Black maple (Acer nigrum)

A nice shade tree, the black maple is drought-resistant and can be used well in suburban landscapes. Its leaves turn yellow and orange in fall.

Mountain maple (Acer spicatum)

This is tree has spikes of white flowers in the spring. Its leaves turn orange to red in fall and it is shade tolerant.

Boxelder (Acer negundo)

This tree is known by numerous common names such as Manitoba maple, ash-leaf maple, California maple, maple ash, sugar ash, black ash, stinking ash, cut-leaf maple, three-leaved maple, and river maple. It has a trifoliate leaf and often misidentified as an ash. The tree spreads quickly and keeps its fruit through the winter which feeds birds that do not migrate. The tree does not keep to a ‘typical’ shade tree shape and its leaves turn yellow in fall.

This fall or spring, consider planting a native maple in your yard, leave it be, and watch the cycle of life extend to the insects and birds that benefit from the food and shelter it offers. Your yard is habitat. Make it count!