In 1791 Thomas Jefferson and James Madison embarked on a month-long excursion to Lake Champlain through the heart of New England's sugar maple country. Jefferson, already inspired by a Philadelphia Quaker movement to abolish the West Indian slave-driven cane industry, envisioned a domestic sugar enterprise at home. Upon his return trip through Long Island, he purchased sixty trees from the William Prince Nursery. Although his attempts to tap them ultimately failed, a tree from that original planting survived at Monticello until 1992.
Visit Monticello’s Online Shop to check for plants of Sugar Maple.
Typical Blooming Dates: March-April
Growth type: Deciduous tree
Location at Monticello: West Lawn
Location at Monticello: West Lawn
In Bloom at Monticello is made possible by support from The Richard D. and Carolyn W. Jacques Foundation.