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Description
After American Elm was decimated by Dutch Elm Disease the US needed a replacement. Silver Maple seemed like a perfect choice. Another native, this Maple is large, fast growing, and very tolerant of pollution, compacted soil, etc, it seemed like a perfect choice. It was planted heavily, and in many cases almost exclusively, throughout many postwar suburbs. However, over time the tree fell out of favor. A host of downsides giving it a negative reputation. Under good conditions the tree can live over 100 years. However, stressful city and suburban life can cut this down to 50 to 60 years under the hardest conditions. Shallow roots also meant they buckled sidewalks more than other species. Not to mention rot-prone wood and the tree's tendency to frequently shed branches. By the late 1960s it was mainly relegated to backyards where it's dropped branches and shallow roots weren't a problem. These days you rarely see one planted on a street. Only in a handful of places in the Midwest have I see any abundance of them on a street these days.

This one I particularly liked, because the owner has gone to the effort of nicely shaping it.

Description
After American Elm was decimated by Dutch Elm Disease the US needed a replacement. Silver Maple seemed like a perfect choice. Another native, this Maple is large, fast growing, and very tolerant of pollution, compacted soil, etc, it seemed like a perfect choice. It was planted heavily, and in many cases almost exclusively, throughout many postwar suburbs. However, over time the tree fell out of favor. A host of downsides giving it a negative reputation. Under good conditions the tree can live over 100 years. However, stressful city and suburban life can cut this down to 50 to 60 years under the hardest conditions. Shallow roots also meant they buckled sidewalks more than other species. Not to mention rot-prone wood and the tree's tendency to frequently shed branches. By the late 1960s it was mainly relegated to backyards where it's dropped branches and shallow roots weren't a problem. These days you rarely see one planted on a street. Only in a handful of places in the Midwest have I see any abundance of them on a street these days.

This one I particularly liked, because the owner has gone to the effort of nicely shaping it.