Skip to main content

Southern Sugar Maple

Acer floridanum

Last reviewed: October 2026

Southern Sugar Maple (Acer floridanum)
Photo: (c) Laura Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Toxicity unknown

Southern Sugar Maple (Acer floridanum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Southern Sugar Maple as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

240"–1200" H × 144"–720" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, FL, GA and 12 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Southern Sugar Maple.

Try it with your yardDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Southeastern Plains

Southern Sugar Maple is a medium to large deciduous tree native to Texas that provides excellent shade and stunning fall color. It grows 20-100 feet tall with a rounded crown and develops brilliant orange to red foliage in autumn.

Get an email before your first frost

We'll email you a week before frost can first reach your ZIP. You also get a printable fall checklist with your dates right away.

You'll also get our weekly yard notes. Unsubscribe anytime.

In an HOA neighborhood

Southern Sugar Maple takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Tree size exceeds typical HOA-friendly range

Wildlife value

This tree supports various native birds that nest in its branches and feed on its seeds. The spring flowers attract small pollinators, and the tree serves as a host for several butterfly species.

Common questions

How much sun does Southern Sugar Maple need?
Southern Sugar Maple grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Southern Sugar Maple bloom?
Southern Sugar Maple blooms in March, April, and May.
Where is Southern Sugar Maple native?
Southern Sugar Maple (Acer floridanum) is native to AL, AR, FL, GA and 12 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Southern Sugar Maple toxic to livestock?
The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Southern Sugar Maple as toxic to livestock.
Is Southern Sugar Maple HOA-friendly?
Southern Sugar Maple takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Southern Sugar Maple? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Add this plant to your garden
iPhone appAndroid app