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.

Acer rubrum (Red Maple) male flowers in March.
Photo by Elaine L. Mills
Acer rubrum (Red Maple) female flowers in April.
Photo © Mary Free
Acer rubrum (Red Maple) fruit in April.
Photo by Elaine L. Mills
Acer rubrum (Red Maple) tree at the Fairlington Community Center in September.
Photo by Elaine L. Mills
Acer rubrum (Red Maple) younger bark.
Photo © Mary Free
Acer rubrum (Red Maple) mature bark in September.
Photo by Elaine L. Mills
Acer rubrum (Red Maple) leaf detail in October.
Photo by Elaine L. Mills
Acer rubrum (Red Maple) leaves in November.
Photo by Elaine L. Mills

Print Version (Legal Size): 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