Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Also listed as Acer coccineum, Acer fulgens
Also known as Swamp Maple, Soft Maple, Scarlet Maple
Climate Match for your location
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A fast-growing native deciduous tree prized for its brilliant red flowers in spring and striking red-orange fall foliage. Red maple adapts to a wide range of soil conditions and provides excellent shade for residential landscapes.
Why grow it
Red maple serves as a reliable native shade tree with notably faster growth than sugar maple or many oak species, making it useful for quicker landscape establishment. It tolerates a broader range of soil moisture conditions than comparable maples, including both wet and dry sites, though it performs best in slightly acidic to neutral soils. The consistent fall color and early spring flowers provide reliable seasonal interest without requiring special pruning or maintenance.
Watch out for
Red maple's vigorous growth habit means it benefits from early structural pruning to develop a strong central leader, particularly in urban or confined settings where branch breakage can occur in heavy winds. The species is prone to various pest and disease issues depending on local conditions (including scale insects and anthracnose in some regions), so monitoring young trees during establishment is worthwhile. Inconsistent fall color across cultivars means selected varieties perform more predictably than seedlings if autumn display is a primary goal.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Sapindaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A fast-growing native deciduous tree prized for its brilliant red flowers in spring and striking red-orange fall foliage. Red maple adapts to a wide range of soil conditions and provides excellent shade for residential landscapes.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Red Maple grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Red maple serves as a reliable native shade tree with notably faster growth than sugar maple or many oak species, making it useful for quicker landscape establishment. It tolerates a broader range of soil moisture conditions than comparable maples, including both wet and dry sites, though it performs best in slightly acidic to neutral soils. The consistent fall color and early spring flowers provide reliable seasonal interest without requiring special pruning or maintenance.
Watch out for
Red maple's vigorous growth habit means it benefits from early structural pruning to develop a strong central leader, particularly in urban or confined settings where branch breakage can occur in heavy winds. The species is prone to various pest and disease issues depending on local conditions (including scale insects and anthracnose in some regions), so monitoring young trees during establishment is worthwhile. Inconsistent fall color across cultivars means selected varieties perform more predictably than seedlings if autumn display is a primary goal.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Sapindaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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