What Grows a Maple Tree in Stardew Valley?

So, you’re looking to cultivate the majestic Maple Tree on your Stardew Valley farm, eh? Well, you’ve come to the right place! The simple answer is: a Maple Seed grows a Maple Tree in Stardew Valley. But there’s more to it than just sticking a seed in the ground. Let’s delve into the nuances of growing these valuable trees.

Understanding Maple Tree Cultivation in Stardew Valley

The Maple Seed is the key. This seed, when planted, will eventually mature into a fully grown Maple Tree. These trees are more than just aesthetic additions to your farm; they are vital resources.

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know to successfully grow Maple Trees:

1. Acquiring Maple Seeds: Obtaining Maple Seeds is your first task. There are multiple ways to do this:

   • Chopping down Maple Trees: Felling a mature Maple Tree is the most reliable method. When you chop down a mature Maple Tree (located outside your farm), it will drop Wood, Sap, a chance of Maple Seeds, and, if you have the Lumberjack profession (level 10 foraging profession choice), a chance of Hardwood.
   • Shaking Maple Trees: Interacting with a mature Maple Tree by right-clicking (shaking it) can sometimes yield a Maple Seed. This method isn’t as guaranteed as chopping them down, but it saves you an axe swing!
   • Garbage Cans: Check the garbage cans around town! They can occasionally contain Maple Seeds. This is less reliable, but hey, free is free.
   • Woodskip Fish Pond: Once your Woodskip Fish Pond population reaches 9, it can produce 1-5 Maple Seeds.
   • Traveling Cart: This vendor occasionally stocks Maple Seeds, although the price varies (100-1,000g).
   • Digging up Maple Seeds on the Farm: If a mature Maple Tree drops a Maple Seed on your farm, you can use an Axe or Pickaxe to dig it up from the ground.

2. Planting Maple Seeds: Once you have your Maple Seed, find a suitable spot on your farm or elsewhere in the valley.

   • Location: Maple Seeds can be planted in tillable ground outside The Farm. The ground must be un-tilled to plant the seed.
   • Spacing: This is crucial! Saplings require a one-tile space surrounding them to grow. This means no other trees, rocks, weeds, or any other obstructions can be adjacent to the sapling.
   • Growth Stages: A Maple seed has approximately a 20% chance to grow to the next stage each night during Spring, Summer, or Fall. It can take up to 46 days for a tree to grow to full.

3. Patience is a Virtue: Growing a Maple Tree takes time. Be patient, clear the area around your sapling, and let nature take its course. Regular trees (maple, oak and pine) won’t grow at all during the winter.

4. Benefits of Maple Trees: Why go through all this effort? Mature Maple Trees offer several benefits:

   • Maple Syrup: Tapping a mature Maple Tree with a Tapper yields Maple Syrup every 9 days (or 4-5 days with a Heavy Tapper). Maple Syrup is the most profitable of the three types of common tree syrup.
   • Wood: Chopping down a Maple Tree gives you wood, which is vital for crafting and building.
   • Hazelnuts: Maple trees have a chance to drop a Hazelnut during the last two weeks of Fall.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Maple Trees in Stardew Valley

Here are some common questions regarding Maple Trees in Stardew Valley:

1. Where is the best place to find naturally growing Maple Trees?

The Cindersap Forest (south of your farm) is a prime location to find naturally growing Maple Trees. Particularly the south east corner of the forest, near the sewer entrance.

2. Why isn’t my Maple Seed growing?

Several factors could be at play:

• Obstructions: Ensure there are no rocks, weeds, or other objects in the tile surrounding the sapling.
• Season: Trees won’t grow in winter.
• Time: It can take a significant amount of time (up to 46 days) for a tree to reach maturity.
• Other Mature Trees: A sapling will never grow past stage 4 if there is a mature tree in any of its eight adjacent tiles.

3. Can I plant Maple Trees close together?

Seedlings need a one-tile space to grow. Mature trees can grow side-by-side as long as they had that space when they were seedlings.

4. How do I get Maple Syrup?

You need a Tapper. Craft one (requires Foraging level 3 and 40 Wood, and 2 Copper Bars) and place it on a mature Maple Tree. After 9 days, it will produce Maple Syrup. A Heavy Tapper will produce syrup more quickly (4-5 days).

5. Is Maple Syrup profitable?

Yes! Maple Syrup is the most profitable syrup you can get from common trees (Pine Tar and Oak Resin being the other two). It’s a good source of passive income.

6. Can I buy Maple Seeds?

Maple Seeds are available for purchase at the Traveling Cart in the Cindersap Forest. The selling price ranges from 100 to 1,000 g. They are not sold at Pierre’s General Store or JojaMart.

7. Do Maple Trees regrow after I cut them down?

Trees outside your farm will regrow if you planted them.

8. Can I plant Maple Trees in Winter?

You can plant them, but they won’t grow until Spring.

9. What’s the best way to get Maple Seeds early in the game?

Focus on chopping down Maple Trees in the Cindersap Forest. Always carry an axe and be ready to chop! Checking the garbage cans near the town is also an option.

10. What is the Lumberjack profession and how does it affect Maple Trees?

At Foraging level 10, you can choose the Lumberjack profession. Lumberjacks get 25% more wood from trees. Also, you have a chance to get Hardwood when chopping down Maple Trees, Oak Trees, Pine Trees, and Mushroom Trees.

11. Do Maple Trees drop anything else besides Maple Seeds and Hazelnuts?

They drop Wood and Sap when chopped down.

12. Are there different types of Maple Trees in Stardew Valley?

No, there is only one type of Maple Tree in Stardew Valley.

13. How long does it take for a Maple Seed to become a fully grown tree?

Approximately 46 days during Spring, Summer, or Fall.

14. What is the purpose of Maple Syrup in Stardew Valley?

Besides selling it for profit, Maple Syrup is used in various cooking recipes, like the Pancakes.

15. Is there a way to speed up tree growth in Stardew Valley?

Yes! You can use Tree Fertilizer to increase the growth speed. Craft it (requires Foraging level 8) using 5 Fiber and 1 Stone. Note that it only works on the farm.

By understanding the life cycle of the Maple Tree and applying these tips, you’ll have a thriving maple grove in no time! Remember to clear those obstructions and be patient. Happy farming!

Learning more about game design, mechanics, and the educational potential of games like Stardew Valley can be found at the Games Learning Society website: GamesLearningSociety.org.

That concludes our comprehensive guide on growing Maple Trees in Stardew Valley. Go forth and cultivate your maple empire!