Acer saccharinum
Linnaeus
Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum, Silver Maple, courtesy of John Campbell copyright.

This deciduous tree grows rapidly in full sun in zones 3-9 in the central and eastern United States.

It tolerates a range of soil types and grows to heights of 50 to 70 feet.

Simple, opposite leaves are three to six inches long with five deeply cut, relatively narrow lobes.

The leaves are silvery on the underside, noticeably different from the often dark green uppersides.

We had these trees in our back yard in Pottersville, New Jersey, but I do not remember using them for Saturniidae.

They did seem to be quite popular, however, with Dryocampa rubicunda. Stephen E. Stone indicates this tree is also suitable for Anisota oslari, Antheraea polyphemus, Eacles imperialis, Hyalophora cecropia and Saturnia lindia.

The Natural History Museum reports Acer rubrum as a host for the following species:

Anisota oslari
Antheraea polyphemus
Automeris io
Dryocampa rubicunda
Eacles imperialis
Hyalophora cecropia
Saturnia lindia

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