Maple identification help

[Joe_B]

Hello,

Looking for clarification on my maple. I believe it’s a Norway and would like to know 100% so any help is appreciated. I pulled it out of the ground in eastern PA about 10 years ago. Fall color is a rough yellow. I’ve included some leaf and bark images. Thank you!

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Definitely not Norway, I'd guess Acer rubrum, Red maple.

 

[penumbra]

Easy to find out. When you pluck a leaf off a Norway it has milky white sap.

 

[RKatzin]

Looks like Sweetgum?

 

[penumbra]

That would explain the bark which doesn't look like a young maple.

 

[Joe_B]

Thanks all, perhaps red maple.. yes. I’ll post some fall pics for an update. Maybe this was one of those free red maples you get from Arbor Day when placing an order.

 

[RKatzin]

I shied away from red maple based on the fall color you described as rough yellow. I believe the red maple has red fall colors. Sweetgum is usually mottled yellows, reds and purples depending on how the sun hits.
I don't think there's any difference in the care and feeding of either tree.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I would assume Acer rubrum, ie red maple.

It is NOT a sweetgum, because sweetgum leaves are alternate, while maple leaves are opposite.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Norway maple top, Sweetgum middle


Famous Red Maple

 

[just.wing.it]

Leaves say Acer Rubrum to me.....but that bark.....what the hell is happening with that bark....
It looks like pavement.
They caan have yellow color in fall too....less desirable in my opinion....but I think that's from hybrids.

 

[just.wing.it]

Norway maple top, Sweetgum middle
View attachment 382356
View attachment 382357
Famous Red Maple
View attachment 382360

The middle looks like Silver Maple from here.

Sweetgum....

 

[Mike Westervelt]

This is Silver Maple My sweetgum is Liquidambar styraciflua

 

[Deleted member 32750]

Leaves definitely look like Acer Rubrum to me. Cool bark on this one.

 

[Joe_B]

Dug through a bunch of old photos, found a few leaf ones. Might be a sugar

 

[just.wing.it]

Not a Sugar Maple.
Definitely a wild Rubrum.
"Weirdbark Maple"

 

[just.wing.it]

This is Silver Maple My sweetgum is Liquidambar styraciflua
View attachment 382369

Never seen those over here. OP is east coast.
The Liquidambar i showed is very common here.....but not more common than Acer Rubrum.

 

[sorce]

That's not really bark is it?

Welcome to Crazy!

At least we know @just.wing.it always solders his joints well!

Sorce

 

[Joe_B]

Hmm, I never have been concerned about the bark until now. I wonder what it is? I’ve always thought the pebble forms was the natural evolution of producing the vertical cracks you see in older trees in the forest. I’m concerned now it might be some kind of disease. Some of the outer pebbles are able to be scraped off and you can see the white spots which were under them. Any thoughts?

 

[penumbra]

You make it sound like scale but it is probably an anomaly. You said you pulled it out of the ground 10 years ago so what was it like then?

 

[Joe_B]

I can’t remember, I think it was just a random seedling. Here is what the bark was like 3-4 years ago - no signs of the pebbles.The brown damage is from a squirrel who chewed through a few of my trees