Sugar maple
Acer saccharum
A native deciduous tree with opposite branching and usually five-lobed leaves. Its sap is collected and concentrated into maple syrup during late-winter and early-spring freeze–thaw weather. It is a seasonal sap reference, not a ready-to-pick fruit or leaf vegetable.
Native range
Eastern and central North America, including southern Ontario.
Typical season
Ontario describes maple production from February through April, with March–April the familiar core season. Sap flow depends on weather, location and tree condition. Stored syrup is available beyond the collection season.
Identification
Check leaves, buds, opposite twigs, bark and paired winged seeds to distinguish sugar maple from Norway, silver and red maples. Winter identification cannot rely on absent leaves. Tapping requires the owner's permission and appropriate tree size and technique. Collect and process sap hygienically; this profile is not a tapping or syrup-processing instruction.