Maple Trees in Virginia ( Top 4)

Last Modified

March 13, 2023 by Hirah Ehsan

Nobody can deny the beauty of tall and majestic maple trees in Virginia. It is one of the favorite landscape trees of Virginia citizens. This land is enriched with dense forestry and tall trees that seem to touch the skies.

Maple trees serve the purpose of increasing the beauty of your property. These trees not only offer stunning visuals but also stay colorful. My opinion is that the maple trees are an excellent addition to your community gardens in Virginia.

According to a recent survey, Maple trees are the favorite choice among 15.7% population. Apart from the Oak and Olive trees, the Maple tree is considered a symbol of beauty. This is because maple trees can survive the Goldilocks climate of Virginia.

In this article, I am going to address the types of commonly available maple trees in Virginia. Additionally, you must know how you can plant and take care of Maple trees. The deep and well-drained soil offers an ideal condition for the growth of Maple trees.

Types of Maple Trees in Virginia

While we discuss maple trees, you must know what type is present in Virginia. The mountainous range and soil of Virginia are very suitable for Maple trees to grow. Let’s talk about some of the common Maple trees present in Virginia.

1. Silver Maple

Silver Maple or Acer Saccharinum is 80 to 90 feet tall and has a fast growth rate. This tree is also known as Creek Maple and Water Maple in some parts of Virginia. Silver Maple is a shady tree 50 feet wide.

This type of maple usually grows around wetlands and waterways. The leaves have a distinctive 5 lobes pattern with palmate veins. Silver Maple is a deciduous type of tree that shed leaves annually. This maple tree has bright yellow to orange colors and beautiful leaves.

2. Sugar Maple

Most of the tall Virginia trees are hardwood and Sugar Maple is no different. If you’re a Virginia citizen, you often see Sugar maple near the Chesapeake watershed of Virginia. These trees are much taller than Silver Maple and have a height of above 100 feet.

Just like the Silver Maple, this tree has also a five-lobed leaf with a length of 8 inches. Sugar maple looks stunning with its bright yellow to orange fall colors. You can also observe reddish color leaves at some point in the summer season.

3. Striped Maple

Striped Maple is the smallest among the other two maple tree types. The maximum height of striped maple is up to 30 feet only. The forked trunk has a broadly columnar shape structure with a flat top.

The young bark of Striped maple contains a striped pattern of green and white colors. The forward-pointing lobes of this tree are beautiful. If we talk about the leaf length of Striped maple, is nearly 6 inches.

4. Benefits of Maple Trees

Maple trees are extremely popular in hilly and mountainous areas. These trees have dense leaf structures and faster growth rates. They can become a good relief from the excess heat of the summers through their dense canopies.

We can’t ignore the importance of trees in producing a healthier environment for us. Maple trees enhance the beauty of your home with their fabulous colors. The special look they have in the fall season mesmerizes the beauty of Virginia.

Growing Maple Trees in Virginia–What You Need to Know

The broad and dense canopies of Virginia are best for the Maple trees to grow. As I’ve mentioned above the types of maple trees in Virginia, all have different color patterns. If you’re planning to grow maple trees around your house, you’re welcome to follow my guidelines.

The first and most important thing you need to focus on is the selection of a place. A sunny place with good-quality soil is best for the maple trees to grow. They also need a vast area so they can expand their branches properly.

If you ever visit a Virginia forest, you’ll have an idea of how well they grow in soil. You can purchase the maple tree from your nearest plant retailer. The sellers use pots or containers so that you can transport them easily to your home.

Get the maple tree out of the container and measure the root ball length. Dig a hole according to the root ball in a suitable land. The hole must be 1.5 times wider than the root ball width. Make sure the soil is meeting the need for plant growth.

If the place you want to dig is dense or sandy, you can add compost to it. This will improve soil drainage and make it suitable for moisture retention. After the soil is ready, place the root of the maple tree inside the hole in an upright position.

Sometimes, the root is balled and needs cutting of the twine from the trunk base. This will allow the maple tree to grow in an organized manner. It will also prevent the trunk from girdling when the tree starts to gain height.

Now it is time to replace the soil around the plant and cover the hole completely. Make sure there is no air pockets buildup in the hole of the planted tree. You can tap the soil and then water it slowly using a mixture of the liquid planter.

During the first season, the maple tree requires special care and attention. Keep it watering throughout the season and also take care of the dry spells. It will not be so long before the tree starts reaching its full potential and spreading its colors.

Final Thoughts

Maple trees in Virginia are the symbol of beauty and attraction. The genus of the maple tree is very diverse and spread all across Virginia. In just a few years, maple tree grows and adds natural soothing beauty to your garden.

With that being said, you’re now ready to plant your first maple tree in your garden. I can assure you the beautiful leaves will make you fall in love with this tree. Make sure to take care of it during the early days through watering and soil composting.

Research References

Sonti, Nancy F., et al. “White oak and red maple tree ring analysis reveals enhanced productivity in urban forest patches.” Forest Ecology and Management 453 (2019): 117626.

Burr, H. S. “Diurnal potentials in the maple tree.” The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine 17.6 (1945): 727..