Red Maple
Acer rubrum
The Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is one of the most abundant and widespread deciduous trees in eastern North America, celebrated for its brilliant red autumn foliage and remarkable adaptability to a wide range of habitats from swampy lowlands to dry ridges. Its common name reflects not only its scarlet fall color but also its red flowers, red samaras, and red twigs.
• Reaches 18 to 27 meters tall with a rounded to oval crown
• One of the first trees to flower in spring, with showy red blossoms appearing before the leaves
• Extremely adaptable, thriving in habitats from swamp margins to dry upland soils
• The most broadly distributed maple species in North America
• Considered a pioneer species that readily colonizes disturbed sites
분류학
• 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
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
• 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
• 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
• 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
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
재미있는 사실
Red Maple holds the distinction of having the widest north-to-south range of any tree species in eastern North America, spanning from Newfoundland to southern Florida. A single tree can produce up to one million seeds per year, making it one of the most prolific seed producers among eastern hardwoods.
더 보기
