Acer rubrum, Red Maple

Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic

The Red Maple tolerates the widest variety of soil conditions of any North American forest species.  Its leaves turn brilliant scarlet, orange, and yellow in the fall, making it a popular ornamental tree.

Print Version: Acer rubrum, Red Maple

Acer rubrum, Red Maple Tree, Height: 40–80 feet, Spread: 30–50 feet, Bloom Color: Red, Medium-sized deciduous shade tree with full, rounded crown, 3- to 5-lobed leaves with silvery underside, Inconspicuous bright red flowers in March & April, Paired, winged, red-brown fruit from April to June, Red, orange, and yellow fall foliage color, Smooth bark when young, turning to plate-like scales between vertical ridges when older, Tolerates wide range of soil, wet soil and air pollution, No serious pests or diseases, although verticillium wilt can be fatal; deer seldom to occasionally severely damage, esp. when other food is scarce in winter, Fast-growing and very cold hardy, although wind and ice may break some branches, Attractive to wildlife for food and nesting cavities; larval host to a variety of moths, Soil Requirements: Average to rich, well-drained, Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade,  Water Requirements: Moist, Wet, Avoid planting near sidewalks or driveways as shallow root systems may cause buckling, Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–9, Excellent Replacement for Acer palmatum - Japanese Maple, Acer platanoides - Norway Maple, Acer pseodoplatanus - Sycamore Maple, Broussonetia papyyrifera - Paper Mulberry, Morus Alba - White Mulberry

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants: Tried and True Plant Fact Sheets

Tags: Tree, Height: 40–80 feet, Spread: 30–50 feet, Bloom Color: Red, Medium-sized deciduous shade tree with full, rounded crown, 3- to 5-lobed leaves with silvery underside, Inconspicuous bright red flowers in March & April, Paired, winged, red-brown fruit from April to June, Red, orange, and yellow fall foliage color, Smooth bark when young, turning to plate-like scales between vertical ridges when older, Tolerates wide range of soil, wet soil and air pollution, No serious pests or diseases, although verticillium wilt can be fatal; deer seldom to occasionally severely damage, esp. when other food is scarce in winter, Fast-growing and very cold hardy, although wind and ice may break some branches, Attractive to wildlife for food and nesting cavities; larval host to a variety of moths, Soil Requirements: Average to rich, well-drained, Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade,  Water Requirements: Moist, Wet, Avoid planting near sidewalks or driveways as shallow root systems may cause buckling, Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–9, Excellent Replacement for Acer palmatum – Japanese Maple, Acer platanoides – Norway Maple, Acer pseodoplatanus – Sycamore Maple, Broussonetia papyyrifera – Paper Mulberry, Morus Alba – White Mulberry