Gary W. Graham, Ohio State University Extension, Northeast District; James A. Chatfield, Ohio State University Extension, Northeast District and Department of Horticulture and Crop Science; Kenneth D. Cochran, Secrest Arboretum of The Ohio State University Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio.
Acer saccharum. Sugar maple.
There are a number of sugar maple types at Secrest Arboretum, ranging from the "Super-Sweet" test plots in the old eastern portion of the Arboretum that is cut off from the main plantings by Route 250 to the naturally growing sugar maples that lend their golden fall color to the undeveloped woodlands.
There are several unusual clones that illustrate the range of this species. 'Sweet Shadow' is a cultivar with deeply cut leaves, with each lobe cut as well. It has excellent orange-yellow fall color. There are fine specimens in the Deciduous Tree plot.
'Temple's Upright' is an incredibly narrow spire-like form that always attracts attention, and when the plot was thinned, 'Temple's Upright' was never considered for removal due to this interest — and the fact that it takes up so little horizontal space!
'Kompact' is a wonderful broadly pyramidal form which looks sheared but is not and has excellent orangish-yellow fall foliage color.
So, come to Secrest — to see the maples!