Canada’s love for the maple tree

Care & North America

Have you ever played ‘guess the flag’? It gets quite tricky after a while with all those horizontal and vertical stripes and host of colour combinations. But luckily there’s Canada’s Maple Leaf Flag. The red and white flag was adopted in 1964. But why a maple leaf on the flag? Where does the love for that tree come from? We've found out for you!

Esdoorn Mooiwatplantendoen.nl

The sugar maple

The maple leaf has been a symbol of Canadian nature since 1700. The maple leaf on the flag comes from the sugar maple, Sapindaceae. This is native to Canada and can reach a height of 40 metres. The fantastic leaves change colour in the autumn from bright yellow, through orange to glowing russet. An amazing Indian summer spectacle that you might hopefully one day see with your own eyes!

Tasty treats and team sports

The sap of the sugar maple is used to make maple syrup. Does that ring a bell? Think of pancakes. Delicious banana pancakes served with a runny syrup - maple syrup. Yum! Since the wood of the sugar maple is the hardest in the maple family, it is widely used. The attractive wavy markings mean that violins and guitars are made with maple wood, but the durable qualities mean it’s also used for kitchens, furniture and floors. Bowling alleys, for instance. Pour over some syrup and you’re ready to roll!

A little bit of Canada in the garden

The maple is an excellent addition to the garden in our climate. It grows rapidly, including after pruning, which makes it an ideal candidate for an organic hedge. Do check the species of maple, since not all varieties give you those fabulous leaf colours in the autumn.