The silver maple is one of the most common trees in the United States, found mostly in the eastern United States and in the southeast part of Canada. The silver maple is a relatively fast growing tree, generally growing to 20 to 30 meters in height, to 35 meters in height for extremely tall cases. Also known as the "water maple," the silver maple is quite frequently found in wetlands and alongside waterways. Its leaves have five lobes with deep, angular notches, and grow to between 8 and 16 centimeters in length and 6 to 12 centimeters in width. Its slender stalks, which are usually 5 to 12 centimeters long, are susceptible to even slight breezes when the undersides of the leaves are exposed.
The bark of the silver maple is grey and shaggy on mature trunks and smooth and silvery grey on young trunks and branches. The large buds found on the silver maple in many parts of the United States are a primary source of food for the squirrels during the springtime. Most of the acorns and nuts have sprouted by this time leaving the squirrels with a scarce supply of food. The seeds of the silver maple are the largest of any native maple and are a source of food for many forms of wildlife.
The silver maple, with its brittle wood, is very susceptible to storm damage. It thrives easily in urban conditions and is commonly found along sidewalks. It can grow on dry ground even though it is commonly found as well as planted near water.