• Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Ginny Stibolt, Ixia Chapter FNPS

Acer rubrum

red maple

Nomenclature

Common Name:

red maple

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Acer rubrum

Family:

Sapindaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

45 to 50 ft tall by 35 to 50 ft wide.  Trunk diameter up to 3 ft.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

red

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms in winter. Fruits ripen quickly after bloom

Noted For:

Showy Fruits, Fall Color, Interesting Bark

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shade or fall color tree for moist areas.

Rain gardens or bioswales

Considerations:

Text

Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

Text

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

adaptable, but prefers acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Mammals

Attracts bees.





Larval host for imperial moth ( Eacles imperialis ) , cecropia silkmoth ( Hyalophora cecropia ), polyphemus moth( Antheraea polyphemus ) and rosy maple moth ( Dryocampa rubicunda ).

Seeds consumed mostly by squirrels and other rodents. 

Native Habitats:

Flatwoods, swamps, moist secondary woods

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Sap once used as a source of sugar (less desirable that sugar maple sap). Wood strips used to make baskets.

General Comments:

In January the tree bears tiny red flowers followed by conspicuous, bright-red, winged samaras,or keys, which remain on trees for several weeks, serving as indicators of spring.



Florida-grown stock does not need cold temperatures to stimulate flowering, but out-of-state stock does, and should be avoided.



Red maple has the greatest south-north range of tree species in eastern North America.