Oops – Looking A Free Tree In The Leaf

Jeff Green | Sep 20, 2023

As part of its provincially funded Derecho recovery, North Frontenac Township organised a one-time Sugar Maple free tree program for residents this past spring.

About 1,000 sugar maple seedlings were provided to local residents who responded to a call from the township, and they received healthy seedlings.

“We received a few calls from residents this summer saying that the seedlings that they received= were they were looking more like Manitoba Maples than Sugar Maples,” said Brooke Ross, Manager of Community Development with North Frontenac.

The township contact Tree Time, the Edmonton based company that supplied the Maple Seedlings.

“At first, they said it was possible that one or two of them could have been Manitoba Maples. But later they called back to say that a more serious mistake had been made.”

On September 13, the township posted a notice on their website about the matter, as a way of contacting the affected landowners.

“It was discovered that much of the Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) that we provided this year in our free tree handout was instead Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo). Tree Time traced this back to a problem with seed identification. While they have taken measures to prevent this issue in the future, you may have received the wrong seedlings.”

Sugar Maples grow at a rate of about a foot per year. Red Maples can grow at double that rate, and Manitoba Maples have been known to grow at a rate of 5-8 feet per year. They do no sucker but spread quickly through seed.

Also known as Box Elder, and Ash Leaf Maple, they are useful as a fill in tree in locations where other species will not grow as they are extremely versatile. Although, they are not officially considered an invasive species in Ontario, they are considered a nuisance, or weed tree, by many gardeners, and anyone who received on from the township might consider removing it this fall.

The wood is not considered a hardwood in the way wood from other species of Maple is, but they can be tapped.

Concerned residents who planted the Manitoba’s thinking they were Sugar Maples, may consider removing them this fall.

They are easy to distinguish from other species of maple because their leaf structure and shape is radically different (see photos)

Tree Time will be providing replacement Sugar Maple trees to the township for planting next spring, and they will be available to replace this year’s trees.

“We wanted to get the word out to residents as soon as we hear from Tree Time,” said Ross