Here's why:

* Vascular tissue is a specialized tissue that transports water and nutrients throughout the plant. It consists of xylem (for water transport) and phloem (for nutrient transport).

* Sugar maples, like all trees, have a well-developed vascular system that allows them to grow tall and access water and nutrients from the soil.

* They rely on this vascular system for essential processes like photosynthesis, transpiration, and growth.

Therefore, sugar maples are definitely vascular plants.