Silver Maple is a medium-sized to large tree commonly planted but generally uncommon to rare in the wild throughout North Carolina, found growing along streams and in other wet habitats.

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.

The leaves are silvery-white beneath.

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.

The leaves are more deeply lobed than those of the similar Red Maple.

Ellerbe Creek, Durham NC 9/23/03.

NC 751 bridge, Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 9/20/03.

Similar to Red Maple, the bark of young trees (foreground) is smooth, while that of larger trees (background) is scaly.

Ellerbe Creek, Durham NC 10/1/03.

Bark of a large tree.

Grayson Co., VA 6/10/07.

Trees are usually multi-stemmed. Silver Maple can be spotted at a distance when the wind blows to reveal the silvery leaf undersides.

Madison Co., NC 5/11/08.