The grayish bark is smooth, becoming furrowed and scaly with age. Silver Maple is a tree of river banks and bottomlands. It grows rapidly and is planted along streets for shade. It is also used as an ornamental. The white soft wood is suited for millwork, spools and small articles.
Silver Maple or Soft Maple has large, deeply lobed leaves that are pale green above and whitish below, with some hairs along the veins. One form has leaves deeply cut and indented. In fall, they lack the brilliant colors of Red and Sugar Maples, turning dull yellow instead.
