Common Name:

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Acer rubrum

Family:

Sapindaceae

Form:

Size:

Life Span:

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms in winter. Fruits ripen quickly after bloom.

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Considerations:

Availability:

Propagation:

Light:

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:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Organic (muck), Sand

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

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

Wildlife:

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

Native Habitats:

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

Sap once used as a source of sugar (less desirable than 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.