Species Red Maple
A tree with a strong brown trunk having multiple brown branches with orange-red-green leaves growing out of green stems.

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Also Known As - Swamp Maple,Scarlet Maple
The Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is an amazing tree that is native to North America. It has bright, red flowers in the spring as well as stunning foliage colors in autumn, producing wonderful colors of orange, yellow, and red. It is known to be very tough, tolerating a wide range of temperatures, freezing cold, and extreme wind. It is also very fast growing, up to two feet per year under good conditions. Red Maple is a great choice for landscaping, being well adapted to many soils, easy to care for, and it is a very valuable source of food and shelter for wildlife.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Greenwood Cuttings,Grafting Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3

Flowers:

Red, sometimes yellow Flowers

Sun:

full sun

Soil:

Sandy Loamy Clay

Fruits:

Fruits In Summer Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,red,yellow,orange

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Maintenance:

Low

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Red Maple trees should be watered regularly with the frequency determined by the climate. If the climate is hot and dry, Red Maple trees should be watered deeply once a week. If the climate is cooler and receives more rainfall, they should be watered deeply every 2 weeks. When watering, ensure that the water penetrates at least 6-10 inches deep into the soil. Also, during the hot summer months, mulching the base of the tree can help maintain soil moisture and prevent the soil from drying out quickly.

sunlight

Red Maple trees require full sun in order to reach their full growth potential. The best amount of direct sunlight for a mature Red Maple is 8-10 hours per day. For young Red Maple trees, they should receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight during their establishment period. Keep in mind that the amount of sunlight the tree should receive needs to be in balance with the amount of moisture supplied to the tree, as too much sun without enough water can be a recipe for disaster.

pruning

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) can be pruned at any time of the year. However, the best time for pruning Red Maple is typically late winter or early spring, while the tree is still dormant. The amount of pruning should be kept to a minimum when possible. For aesthetic purposes, remove dead or broken branches throughout the year, and trim away crossing or interfering branches to open the tree's canopy. For health and safety, consider removing any branches that are growing too close to a structure or power lines, and thinning to reduce the risk of wind damage.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Acer rubrum typically begins in late summer or early fall, usually in September or October.

Starts Flowering

Red Maple typically starts flowering in March or April.

Hardiness Map