Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum

Typically in season from February to April, peaking around March to April in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by Kent P. McFarland · iNaturalist

When Sugar Maple is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak March to April. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Sugar Maple is usually found in Woodland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: sycamore maple, Norway maple, red maple. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Sugar Maple into the field

Open Sugar Maple in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Sugar Maple: common questions

When is Sugar Maple in season?

Sugar Maple is generally in season from February to April, with its peak around March to April in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Sugar Maple grow?

Sugar Maple is usually found in Woodland.

Is Sugar Maple safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: sycamore maple, Norway maple, red maple. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits