Acer saccharum 'Legacy'

Legacy Sugar Maple

The Legacy Sugar Maple, also known as Acer saccharum 'Legacy', is a wonderful tree that is known for its vibrant fall color and its resistance to heat and drought, which is unusual for a Sugar Maple.

This variety of Sugar Maple typically grows to a height of 40-50 feet with a spread of around 25-35 feet at maturity. It has a moderate growth rate and prefers full sun to partial shade. The Legacy Sugar Maple is adaptable to a variety of soil conditions but thrives best in well-drained, moist, fertile soils.

In the fall, the leaves of the Legacy Sugar Maple turn a brilliant orange-red, creating a stunning display. In addition to its beauty, this tree is also valued for its sap, which can be used to make maple syrup.

Like other maples, it's important to water this tree regularly, especially during dry periods. Pruning is best done in late summer or early fall to prevent sap bleed.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Medium maintenance.  Water regularly.  Susceptible to verticillium wilt, anthracnose, cankers, leaf spot, and tar spot.  Also susceptible to aphids, borers, and scale.  Leaf scorch may be a problem with drought conditions in full sun. Sugar Maples are usually intolerant of road salt and pollution.

LANDSCAPE USES: Group Plantings or Specimen Tree, Naturalized Areas, Woodland Gardens, Privacy Screen, Street Tree, and Shade Tree

COMPANION PLANTS:  Carex, St. John's Wort, Inland Sea Oats

IMAGES: Photo by Virens (Latin for greening), Sugar Maple, (2) Photo by David J. Stang, Acer saccharum Legacy 0zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (3) Photo by David J. Stang, Acer saccharum Legacy 5zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (4) Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, Acer saccharum JPG1T, CC BY-SA 3.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.