Helicopter Seeds And The 4 Maple Trees That Produce Them

Table of Contents Show

1. What are helicopter seeds?
   1. The Dead Giveaway: Single vs. Double Wings
2. 4 Maple Trees that Produce Many Helicopter Seeds
   1. 1. Red Maple Trees (Acer Rubrum)
   2. 2. Silver Maple Trees (Acer Saccharinum)
   3. 3. Norway Maple/Harlequin Maple (Acer Platanoides)
      1. The Seed: A Masterpiece of Physics
      2. Identification Shortcut
   4. 4. Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum)
3. Can You Eat Maple Helicopter Seeds? (The Survivalist’s Secret)
4. When do the Helicopter Seeds Appear
5. How to Optimize Helicopter Seed Growth for your Garden Trees
   1. 1. Using the Appropriate Soil
   2. 2. Using Fertilizers
   3. 3. Water Your Trees
   4. 4. Selectively Prune Your Trees

Many gardeners and environment enthusiasts adore Samara fruit, often known as helicopter seeds. These papery winged seeds make excellent toys and nibbles. Maple helicopter seeds are dry fruits, not soft fruits like apples or cherries. The seeds are wrapped by a papery wing that helps in seed dispersal when the wind blows.

Sometimes these seeds are also known as winged seeds, spinning jenny, whirligig, whirlybird, and even wing-nut. While some of these names make it easy to understand what’s so special about these fruits, their official botanical name is actually samaras.

Although many different tree species produce these samaras, most of them are structurally different enough to be classified by the tree that they came from. The most common sources of these samaras are some of the maple trees, the ash tree, the elm tree, the common hoptree, and various others.

Although there are quite a handful of tree species that produce these samaras, our focus for this article is on the 4 different types of maple trees that produce the helicopter seeds as, as they are better known.

What are helicopter seeds?

Before we delve into which species of trees it is that actually produces these unique seeds, we must understand what exactly helicopter seeds are. 

These so-called ‘helicopter seeds’ are often synonymous with the name maple seeds due to the large number of maple trees that produce them. For clarity, however, it is imperative to understand that it is not just maple trees that produce these seeds. In fact, quite a few other tree species also produce these seeds.

The helicopter seeds, more than anything else, are an evolutionary advancement in trees. Most trees rely on different methods and strategies for seed dispersal and increase their spread. One common mode of seed dispersal is wind. In this method trees rely on the wind to carry their seeds further in order to increase the land that they dominate.

Over the years as trees evolved the structure of their seeds evolved as well. In this case the seeds evolved to form a light papery structure that can glide in the air and travel a greater distance. This ensures that the seeds spread out further away from the plant.

What this spreading of seeds achieves is a lack of competition for food and nutrients amongst trees of the same species. Therefore, this allows for the trees to grow better since they each have more nutrients.

The mere fact that so many different tree species produce samaras means that this genetic evolution is truly beneficial to trees. That is why so many trees have developed this trait. Though the helicopter seeds have a different structure in each tree. The difference in structure also affects the distance that the seed travels.

The word ‘Samara’ refers to each portion of the conjoined two sides, which merge to reveal two casings, two seeds, and a structure that resembles a small pair of wings flying down to the sky. This paper thin, winged structure is what allows the seeds to spin through the air like a helicopter.

You may even instead regard them as individuals who have been split in two by winds, animals, or other natural causes. It is not uncommon for most samaras to appear as split individuals.

Other trees that produce a similar sort of helicopter seed are often only able to generate only one-sided wings. Maples are unique in that regard as their seeds are real ‘helicopters,’ both in structure and in how they descend from the canopies. 

The Dead Giveaway: Single vs. Double Wings

If you are trying to identify a tree in your backyard, look at how the seeds are attached:

Ash and Elm Trees: Usually produce single-winged samaras. If the “helicopter” looks like a single paddle rather than a pair of wings, you are likely looking at an Ash tree, not a Maple.

Maple Trees: Always produce double samaras (two seeds joined together, forming a “V” or “U” shape).

4 Maple Trees that Produce Many Helicopter Seeds

Not only do various different types of trees produce different types of samaras, they also produce varying amounts of these seeds. Even amongst the maple trees there are species that produce a significantly larger number of seeds when compared to others. 

Following are the 4 maple trees that produce the greatest number of helicopter seeds when compared to any other maple tree.

1. Red Maple Trees (Acer Rubrum)

The red maple (Acer rubrum) is a native tree of the eastern and north-central United States that grows faster than Norway or sugar maple but considerably slower than silver maple. It is the state tree of Rhode Island and is often a great choice to add some unique colors to your garden.

Also known as October Glory Red Maple, it is one of the fastest growing trees. It is upto 40 to 70 feet tall and spreads 30 to 50 feet wide, with a rounded-to-oval crown. Red maples are chosen for their brilliant red, orange, or yellow fall leaves. Along with bright autumn foliage, the red maple trees’ young branches turn a splendid, bright red color in the winter season. This annual cycle of branches turning from bright green to bright red is a nice compliment to changing colors of the leaves.

The flowers produced by the red maple tree are often red, but can be yellow, and bloom in enormous clusters from March to April, or earlier in cooler areas. The leaves are dark green on top and gray green on the bottom. Samara fruits are crimson in hue and produce a two-winged helicopter seed.

The easiest and most straight-forward way to distinguish samaras from the red maple tree is by the red color. The red maple helicopter seeds are the only ones that actually sport a red color. Most other helicopter seeds are usually some shade of green.

2. Silver Maple Trees (Acer Saccharinum)

Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) is another popular breed of tree in America. In fact the silver maple may just be the most common tree growing on American soil.

This tree is most famous for its silver undertone. This is a silver hue found in the undersides of the leaves produced on the tree. The silver maple tree, like the red maple, is also famous mostly for the unique color that accompanies it, though this is not the only reason for its popularity.

The silver maple grows 2 feet or more every year, reaching 50 to 80 feet tall and about 40 to 60 feet broad depending on the region that tree is growing in. Silver maples are also widely popular for their capacity to live in standing water for extended periods of time, yet being relatively drought resistant. This allows the tree to be easily grown in home gardens without much maintenance.

These trees, which are commonly planted along river banks or the borders of other rivers to reduce erosion, can withstand high water levels in the spring and receding water in the summer. In the early spring, clusters of greenish-yellow to crimson blooms appear. Their flying seed couples proliferate and will drop and grow in any open soil. Also you can buy Silver Maple Saplings from Ann Arbor Foundation.

One of the more unique features that makes the silver maples so special is their sap. The sap that these trees produce is sweet. This is a unique feature even amongst maple trees. Most maple trees, including the red maple tree, produce a sap that has to be processed and artificially sweetened. This, however, is not the case with the silver maple tree.

The sap produced by the silver maple tree is quite sweet and is said to have a butterscotch undertone in flavor. This allows for various breakfast treats to be created and enjoyed by the common American folks.

3. Norway Maple/Harlequin Maple (Acer Platanoides)

3. Norway Maple / Harlequin Maple (Acer platanoides)

The Norway Maple (also frequently referred to as the Harlequin Maple) is a fascinating but controversial deciduous tree. While it was originally introduced to North America for its hardy nature and aesthetic appeal, it is now widely classified as an invasive species. Its aggressive growth and high shade tolerance allow it to dominate forest floors, creating a dense canopy that chokes out native flora.

The Seed: A Masterpiece of Physics

The true secret to this tree’s spread lies in its uniquely engineered samaras. If you look closely at a Norway Maple seed, you will notice a distinct horizontal angle in the wing structure. Unlike the narrow “V” or “U” shapes found in Red or Sugar maples, the wings of the Norway maple spread nearly 180 degrees apart.

This wide-set horizontal angle is perfectly optimized for autorotation. As the seed detaches from the branch, the wing’s weight distribution and aerodynamic shape cause it to spin almost instantly. This autorotation generates a miniature lift producing vortex, slowing its descent to a crawl. In a stiff breeze, these seeds can travel incredible distances, ensuring successful germination far away from the parent tree. The nature has thus ensured maximum seed dispersal.

Identification Shortcut

Aside from the flat, mustache-like wing spread, you can identify this tree by its sap. If you pluck a leaf, the Norway Maple will exude a milky white liquid from the petiole. This, combined with its prolific production of winged fruit, makes it easy to spot—though many foresters recommend keeping it out of your garden to protect local biodiversity.

This huge deciduous tree may grow up to 60 feet tall and has a thick canopy that absorbs light from native maples. Flowers that bloom in May are flat-topped upright yellowish-green clusters with green foliage. In the fall, the green foliage becomes yellow.

4. Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum)

The Japanese maple tree (Acer palmatum), known for its lovely foliage, has leaves with five to nine distinct palmate lobes. They can be green or red, depending on the kind. Autumn leaves turn a vivid crimson, orange, yellow, or purple. Some kinds have broad lobes, while others are delicately divided and seem lacy. 

All this versatility in the very structure and appearance of the tree is where most of the tree’s fame comes from. Being this versatile, almost every tree will have some unique features. This refers to how each individual Japanese maple tree is slightly unique and doesn’t look quite lille the neighboring trees. 

It is not just the colors that the trees sport that vary, but the growing patterns and even leaf size vary in individual trees. The foliage, leaves, growth and branching pattern; all may vary in just neighboring trees.

Japanese Maple tree is a slow growing tree taking almost 12 years to attain a height of 30ft.

Japanese maple blooms are tiny and scarlet or purple, giving place to samara fruit that is half an inch long. This tree is typically 15 to 25 feet tall and broad. The form is typically spherical, however some kinds have a weeping shape.

Can You Eat Maple Helicopter Seeds? (The Survivalist’s Secret)

Many people view samaras as a garden nuisance to be raked away. However, foragers and survivalists surely know that Maple helicopter seeds are edible. Inside the papery wing lies a small green pod. When harvested young (in early spring), these seeds taste like sweet peas or edamame.

You just have to peel away the outer wing and the husk to reveal the small seed inside.

You can eat them raw as a trail snack, or toss them into a stir-fry or salad for a nutty, earthy crunch. As the seeds dry out and turn brown, they become bitter, so catch them while they are still green and tender!

When do the Helicopter Seeds Appear

Helicopter seeds, sometimes known as “samaras,” sprout and fall just once a year. In late spring to early summer, the seeds fully develop and begin to fall off maple trees, much like leaves in the fall.

How to Optimize Helicopter Seed Growth for your Garden Trees

While the genetics of your tree is what determines the exact number of seeds, or even the types of helicopter seeds that your tree will grow. There is still quite a bit that you can do to help optimize this. It is after all the environmental factors which enable genes to be used to their full potential.

That being said, most of what you can do to maximize your trees’ seed growth are the common things most gardeners already do. The following are small tasks that will increase the growth of your trees’ seeds.

1. Using the Appropriate Soil

While most maple trees require a similar rich porous, well drained soil, some may have some special needs. It mostly depends on the species of maple that you plan on growing. That is why it is always important to research the particular tree species that you are growing and arrange for the appropriate soil for best tree growth.

2. Using Fertilizers

Another important common task that aids in the growth of trees is the use of proper fertilizers. Your trees and hence, the seeds require nutrients to grow. These nutrients are absorbed by the tree’s roots and used throughout the plant. One way to ensure that your tree has an ample supply of nutrients is to add fertilizers regularly so that your tree can have all the nutrients it needs for optimal growth. Leaves turning yellow are sure sign of nutrition deficiency and then you take steps to use fertilizers.

3. Water Your Trees

This may be a bit obvious. Of course your tree needs water. However, with maple trees you need to be careful. The age and location of the maple tree is what determines how much water your maple tree needs. It is a good practice to research how much water your particular tree needs and set up a schedule. If scheduling is difficult, you can always get an automated irrigation system that will appropriately water your trees for you.

4. Selectively Prune Your Trees

It is definitely necessary to prune your trees so that they can grow their best. However, there is a thing such as overdoing the task. While pruning your tree is helpful, overdoing it will cause adverse effects in its growth. That is why you need to selectively prune your tree with going too much overboard.