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Silver Maple Not Producing Fruit

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From: David White City: Chicago, IL
We have many silver maples in our neighborhood here in Rogers Park. They have recently dropped lots of samaras. However, one tree that I had identified as a silver maple had no samaras, even though the leaves and bark appear to be those of a silver maple. Any ideas why there are no samaras on this one?
	Extension Message From: Jay Hayek Extension Specialist, Forestry Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences jhayek@illinois.edu
Hi David: Great question, with a relatively simple answer! Silver maple can be either dioecious (either male or female trees) or monoecious (possess both male and female flowers on the same tree). Therefore, it appears one of your silver maples is a male tree and therefore not capable of producing fruit (e.g., samaras). Best of luck!
From: David White City: Chicago, IL
Thanks! It's always great to learn something new.
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