Red Maple

Native to eastern North America with an exceptionally broad range.

• Extends from Newfoundland and southern Quebec west to southeastern Manitoba, south to Florida and eastern Texas
• Found from sea level to approximately 900 meters elevation in the Appalachian Mountains
• One of the most cosmopolitan tree species in the eastern deciduous forest
• Occupies wetlands, floodplains, dry ridges, and everything in between
• Described by Linnaeus in 1753
• The species name "rubrum" means "red" in Latin

A medium to large deciduous tree with a rounded to oval crown.

Bark:
• Young bark is smooth and pale gray; mature bark develops dark gray-brown ridges and plates with age

Leaves:
• Opposite, palmately lobed with 3 to 5 lobes, 5 to 10 cm long and wide
• Medium to dark green above, whitish beneath
• Fall color consistently vivid scarlet to crimson, occasionally orange or yellow
• Leaf margins bear small, irregular teeth

Fruit:
• Paired samaras, 1.5 to 2.5 cm long, maturing in late spring to early summer
• Wings angled at roughly 50 to 60 degrees, often reddish-tinted

Size:
• Typically 18 to 27 meters tall and 45 to 75 cm trunk diameter

Red Maple is a highly adaptable and ecologically important species.

• A pioneer species that rapidly colonizes open sites, disturbed areas, and forest edges
• Tolerant of a remarkably wide range of soil moisture conditions, from saturated wetlands to dry ridges
• Flowers very early in spring, providing critical pollen and nectar for emerging insects
• Seeds are an important food source for songbirds, small mammals, and squirrels
• Deer browse heavily on seedlings and stump sprouts
• Roots help stabilize streambanks and wetland margins
• Increasingly dominant in eastern forests due to fire suppression and its tolerance of disturbed conditions
• Can produce prolific stump sprouts after cutting or fire

Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

• One of the most common and secure tree species in eastern North America
• Populations are increasing in many areas, particularly in regenerating forests
• Its broad ecological tolerance makes it resilient to habitat changes
• May benefit from climate change in northern portions of its range

Red Maple is one of the easiest maples to grow in cultivation.

• Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9
• Highly adaptable to a wide range of soil types including clay, loam, and sandy soils
• Tolerates wet soils and occasional flooding better than most maples
• Prefers acidic to slightly acidic pH (4.5 to 6.5)
• Full sun to partial shade
• Moderate growth rate of 45 to 60 cm per year
• Transplant as young stock; establish with regular watering the first year
• Shallow root system can lift sidewalks if planted too close
• Select named cultivars such as 'Red Sunset' or 'October Glory' for reliable fall color

Red Maple is valued for its ornamental and practical uses.

Ornamental:
• One of the most popular landscape trees in the United States
• Numerous cultivars selected for exceptional fall color, form, and growth rate
• Widely used as a street tree, shade tree, and specimen tree

Wood products:
• Soft maple lumber used for furniture, crates, pallets, and pulpwood
• Wood is relatively soft compared to Sugar Maple but still commercially useful

Ecological restoration:
• Planted for reforestation and riparian restoration due to its rapid growth and adaptability
• Useful for erosion control on disturbed sites