What kind of maple trees grow in the Pacific Northwest?

Maples are popular ornamental trees and there are many cultivated varieties. We have three native maple species in the Pacific Northwest: Big-Leaf Maple and two more shrubby cousins, Vine Maple, Acer circinatum, and Douglas Maple, Acer glabrum.

What kind of maple trees grow in Western Washington?

Maples, plants in the genus Acer, are among the loveliest of trees, and Washington has three outstanding species: big-leaf maple, vine maple and Douglas maple are all valued ornamentals, but each has a situation in which it shines. For a large shade tree, choose the big-leaf maple.

Are maple trees native to North America?

Maples are trees or shrubs in the genus Acer. There are approximately 125 species, most of which are native to Asia, but several species also occur in Europe, northern Africa, and North America.

Did the Native Americans make maple syrup?

Native Americans have been making maple syrup and maple sugar in the Northwoods for a long time now. The methods have changed a little over the millennia, but the process is largely recognizable. Maple syrup is a mainstay of the Northwoods and a delicious treat that both residents and visitors appreciate.

Are maples native to Oregon?

Also called the Oregon maple, this maple tree typically grows to around 50 to 65 feet tall, although it can occasionally get as large as 157-feet in height. It is native to the western part of the United States, including the Pacific Coast, and even into the southernmost part of Alaska.

Are maple trees native to Seattle?

Three common maples found in Seattle are shown on this page. Two are native species and are described below. The following applies to all maples. Called circinatum to indicate the circles formed when tall branch- es bend to the ground and sprout roots.

Are there maple trees in Italy?

Acer opalus, the Italian maple, is a species of maple native to the hills and mountains of southern and western Europe, from Italy to Spain and north to southern Germany, and also in northwest Africa in Morocco and Algeria.

How did Native Americans use maple?

The Native Americans of New England used their maple sugar as gifts, for trading, to mix with grains and berries and bear fat. During the heat of summer a special treat was a drink made of maple sugar dissolved in water.

What is the indigenous history of maple syrup?

The earliest settler references relating to maple syrup were by André Thevet in 1557 and by Marc Lescarbot in 1606. In both cases these accounts of maple syrup were connected to knowledge shared by Indigenous communities. Maple syrup knowledge existed long before settlers arrived in the land we currently call Canada.

Is red maple native to Oregon?

The red maple (acer rubrum) and the sugar maple (acer saccharum) are native to the East Coast and make for a slightly better choice for planting in this country, although they also have shallow roots that may interfere with the growth of grass.