Unique Features: The Oregon Trail Sugar maple is a relatively recent (2009) cultivar originating from a sugar maple growing in Hiawatha, a city in NE Kansas.  “Hiawatha, KS has long been known as the City of Beautiful Maples.” (Oct. 28 2020, The Kansas Gardener). This selection of sugar maple has thick and leathery dark green leaves that resist tattering in the relentless prairie winds. The leaves also have a particularly thick cuticle that both resists insects and conserves moisture.  The Oregon Trail maple also has strong wood that holds up well to ice and snow load without breaking. It is not as finicky about soil pH as most other maples but will still benefit from a fertilizer with iron and sulfur amendment. Overall a good choice for a sugar maple for our area.