2 Beautiful Types of Maple Trees in Kentucky

The state of Kentucky has more than 50 state parks for you to enjoy, so naturally there are tons of trees throughout the state. The Tulip tree is the state tree, and there is a Tulip tree in McCreary County that is 178-feet high, making it the tallest tree in the entire state. Maple trees aren’t too common in Kentucky, only two common types of maple are found in the state of Kentucky.

Of course, there are many other species of trees in the state, and there are so many types of hardwood trees that only Florida has more of these types of trees. In addition to various hardwoods, the state is also home to holly, ebony, magnolia, pine, willow, hazelnut, and of course, maple trees.

Maple trees are not only beautiful in the fall, but they make great shade trees as well. They are also easy to grow and stand out because of their majestic size and their fall leaf colors, which can be orange, red, yellow, and an orange-red color. If you’re curious about the two types of maple trees in the state of Kentucky, below are some details that can help you decide which one is right for you.

1. Red Maple (acer rubrum)

Red maples are beautiful and grow up to 100 feet high. They also have leaves of varying shapes and are very adaptable, especially since they can accommodate many different site and soil conditions. They are also called the soft maple and are the most abundant native tree in the eastern United States.

Red maples do very well in large urban areas thanks to their large root system, and their wood can be used to make veneer, musical instruments, and even furniture, making it a very versatile type of wood indeed.

2. Sugar Maple (acer saccharum)

It should come as no surprise that the sugar maple tree is the most commonly used tree when making maple syrup. Also called the rock maple, the tree has leaves that turn super-bright and bold when the fall comes. They get up to 115 feet high and are very majestic-looking, and a few of them have even grown up to 150 feet in height, although this isn’t average.

The five-lobed leaves are eight inches long and are orange, yellow, or bright orange-red in color. This is but one of the many reasons why they are so frequently found in a variety of public areas, including parks, gardens, and many others.