Acer rubrum
Red Maple is one of the most common trees in our area. Although called a red maple this tree has green leaves until the fall when it truly lives up to it's name. This tree can be found just about anywhere, including forests, stream banks and fields. It is a pioneer tree, which means it is one of the first to take over a field. It is also often an understory tree, growing beneath larger trees. Due to its adaptability has made this species a common tree in home landscape. Red Maples extend from Florida and west to Texas and Minnesota.
| Growth Rate | Moderate to fast, 2-5 ft per year |
| Mature Size | 90 ft |
| Soil | Well adaptable to forested wetlands or well drained but moist upland sites |
| Leaves | Leaves are three-lobed with small teeth growing up to 4 inches long; They are dull green on top and pale green on bottom turning orange to red before they drop in the fall |
| Flower & Fruit | Flowers droop in clusters and are reddish orange in color; Samaras (winged seeds) ripen in the spring, up to ¾ inch long; The small sized samaras of all native maples |
| Deer Browse Risk | Medium |
| Benefits |
Seeds provide a food source for squirrels and some birds. Although not a preferred by deer as a browsing source, the young red maple leaves are a favored food of white-tailed deer. The wood has been used to make paper, furniture, cabinets, plywood, crates, flooring and railroad ties. Tapped for sap used in maple syrup production. Valuable riparian buffer plant due to its tolerance of wetter soils. |