How to identify maple trees by leaf and bark

The genus *Acer* contains roughly 125 species worldwide, with about 13 native to North America. Most people can recognize a maple by its leaf, but distinguishing a sugar maple from a red maple -- or spotting an invasive Norway maple -- requires a closer look. These distinctions matter for fall.

The genus Acer contains roughly 125 species worldwide, with about 13 native to North America. Most people can recognize a maple by its leaf, but distinguishing a sugar maple from a red maple — or spotting an invasive Norway maple — requires a closer look. These distinctions matter for fall color prediction, syrup production, and urban planting decisions.

I don't grow any maple species in my Long Island yard, so this guide is sourced from extension and botanical publications.

The opposite leaf rule

Before looking at leaf shape, check leaf arrangement. Maples have opposite leaves — two leaves emerge at each node, one on each side of the twig. Per NC State Extension, opposite leaf arrangement eliminates most other deciduous trees in North America at a single glance. The mnemonic "MAD Cap Horse" (Maple, Ash, Dogwood, Catalpa, Horse-chestnut) covers the main opposite-leaved trees.

If a tree has alternate leaves (staggered, one per node), it is not a maple.