Its five-lobed leaves grow densely on an upright oval tree that can reach a height of 60 feet with a 45 foot spread. The sugar maple is an excellent shade tree for lawns and parks. Tiny yellowish-green flowers appear in spring before the leaves emerge. The tree's winged fruit, or samaras, matures in the fall. Autumn color is highly variable, ranging from orange to scarlet, but it is always outstanding. One of the best known trees of eastern North America, sugar maple is as prized for its ornamental value as for the syrup produced from its sap. It is a favorite maple for fall color. Unlike other sugar maples, this tree will grow in poor, compact soil.