This tree is number one on my list of maples to push for heavy planting throughout the hill country. It is quite possibly the best fall color producer. The Chalk Maple is a much smaller multi-trunk maple that is actually found in the northern Austin area but is generally associated with the East Texas region. There are very closely related species to the Bigtooth, namely the Caddo and the Mexican Sugar Maple which both have almost double the growth rate, reach color age quicker, and manage both caliche and drought situations better than their cousin the Bigtooth. They have a moderate growth rate and boast multiple colors in the fall once they grow out of the juvenile state (i.e., 10-15 years). They are interspersed in many hill country counties with large populations in Kendall County. The most well-known of all maples in the hill country is the BigTooth Maple, erroneously thought to be located only in the Lost Maples State Park. Ginko (yellow), Shantung Maple (multi), Caddo Maple (multi), Mexican Sugar Maple (multi), Silver Maple (multi), Drummond Red Maple (scarlet), Amur Maple (multi), Trident Maple (multi), Chinese Pistache (multi), Shumard Red Oak (scarlet) Spanish Red Oak (multi), Cedar Elm (yellow), Blackjack Oak (red/purple), Bigtooth Maple (multi), Chalk Maple (scarlet), Trident Maple (yellow), Escarpment Black Cherry, (yellow), Bigleaf & Littleleaf Walnut (yellow), Texas Ash (yellow then scarlet then purple!), Flameleaf Sumac (multi) The lists from that article are reproduced below and the focus of this month’s article will be a brief exposition on the various native and naturalized maple varieties. In that article, I briefly listed both native and naturalized tree species that produce noteworthy color. Complete directions for making maple syrup and maple sugar are HERE.īuy my book! Idiots Guide Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.In last year’s November article, I explained the physiological and conditional factors that cause autumnal color change. Note that it takes boiling down 40 gallons of sap to get one gallon of syrup. Texas weather rarely gives such a clear sign so some luck is involved in getting the timing right. Tapping sugar maples is best done in late winter when daytime highs are 40-50F but below freezing at night. It will still tastes pretty much like a boiled paper bag. Slice it into thin strips then boil it for several hours to make a mush. The inner bark looks like a brown paper bag. Taking more will most likely kill the tree and even just taking 10% will greatly weaken it. Cut long vertical strips of the bark off the tree, not exceeding more than 10% of the width of the tree trunk. The inner bark is mainly a survival food. The young leaves are best within the first few weeks of appearing and are delicious raw and wonderful when added to salads, especially with a tangy oil/vinegar dressing. Remove the seeds from their "wings" before roasting. Maple seeds can be roasted like pumpkins seeds. They can be added raw to salads or even cooked like spinach. These tiny buds and the newest leaves they produce make a good woodland's nibble. In late winter/early spring maples will begin producing leaf buds. Both will also produce the "helicopter" seeds hat twirl and spin as they fall from the tree. Both will have the five-pointed leaves like one sees on Canadian flags and beer bottle labels. The native red maple (Acer rubrum), with its beautiful red seeds and leaves, is much more common. Sugar maples are a common landscaping plant but they are heavy water users. One doesn't usually think of maples as common Texas trees however native stand of sugar maples (Acer saccharum Marsh.) still survive in TX Lost Maples Canyon as holdovers from the last ice age. North American distribution, attributed to U. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. Traditional drill, bucket and spile (tap) for collecting maple sap. They are ready in the spring before the tree puts out its leaves. Mature sugar maple seeds (August in Houston). Maple leaves and almost-mature "helicopter" seeds.Ĭlose-up of sugar maple leaves (top and bottom). Nutritional value: sugar in sap, protein and carbohydrates in seeds, minerals in leaves, carbohydrates in inner bark. How: Boil inner bark or dry into flour, cook seeds, young leaves raw or cooked, boil sap down to syrup
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