Know any tricks to tell maple trees apart by sight?

denisecarmen

I am an aspiring landscape architect, and need to learn to identify my maple trees!

Do you have any tricks to tell them apart at a glance? I know that like anything it will come with practice, but what are the most striking differences in your opinion? What do you look for first?

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Here are the ones I generally come across:

Red Maple
Silver Maple
Sugar Maple
Norway Maple
Manitoba Maple
Black Maple

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I can tell them apart when I look closely, but I'm certain there are easier give aways

Short and sweet answers appreciated (aka: Sugar maple is rounded between the lobes = dead give away!)

pcarborist

One good way to identify a tree from a distance is by its silhouette. Petrides' Field guide to trees and shrubs has a good section on tree silhouettes. Hope that helps.

willem

yes look from a distance and look at the way the crown is shaped and leave color and structure. Look for an arboretum near you and go and see if they have maples. Internet is a good source as well. Just type the latin name at google and pictures will pop up.