No seeds on maple trees this year - Ask Extension
Why do none of my 5 maple trees have any seeds this year? My 5 red maples have seeds. Every other year we alternate with a very large amount of...
Knowledgebase
No seeds on maple trees this year #758859
Asked June 28, 2021, 3:13 PM EDT
Why do none of my 5 maple trees have any seeds this year? My 5 red maples have seeds. Every other year we alternate with a very large amount of seeds but never gave we had not one!
Mahoning County Ohio
Expert Response
Thank you for your question Sharlene.
Production of maple seed pods aka samara can be affected by many factors.
The most common issue reported is over production rather than under production.
However, under production does not necessarily indicate that a maple tree is sick.
Low maple samara production can be due to stressors such as late frost or other weather conditions.
One very notable difference and possible stressor this year is the emergence of the Brood X 17-year cicadas.
If there is no other indication that these trees are ill, then the unusually low or non-existent seed production is likely to do the emergence of Brood X and should increase next year.
