What kind of tree and about how old? - Ask Extension
Can you tell me what kind of tree this is and how old it might be?
Knowledgebase
What kind of tree and about how old? #870155
Asked May 26, 2024, 1:30 PM EDT
Can you tell me what kind of tree this is and how old it might be?
Harford County Maryland
Expert Response
This looks like a silver maple tree (Acer saccharinum). Determining the age of a tree is usual done by counting the annual growth rings (after a tree is down) or by an arborist using an increment borer. You could make an estimate of your tree's age by measuring its circumference and then do a simple calculation noted on this page:
How to Estimate the Age of a Tree
It's hard to tell if you have a single tree there or two (or more) that were planted close together (or seeded in naturally some time ago) and grafted together. Perhaps it was one tree that never developed a strong central leader stem.
The US Forest Service estimates that silver maples can live as long as 130 years in the wild where they are usually found along streamsides or moist floodplains.
Christa
How to Estimate the Age of a Tree
It's hard to tell if you have a single tree there or two (or more) that were planted close together (or seeded in naturally some time ago) and grafted together. Perhaps it was one tree that never developed a strong central leader stem.
The US Forest Service estimates that silver maples can live as long as 130 years in the wild where they are usually found along streamsides or moist floodplains.
Christa
