Red Maple
Acer rubrum

Height: 40-60´
Habit: oval to rounded

Landscape Value:

The red maple is an excellent choice for yard, park, or street known for its outstanding orange to red fall color. It does not do well in heavily polluted areas, and would not be right for every urban location. It is fairly easy to transplant and likes moist and acid soils, although it is quite tolerant of varying conditions. It will grow 18-24" a year, and although it is slower-growing than the silver maple, it is a far superior tree in almost every way. If given adequate space, a red maple is one of the best and most consistently beautiful shade trees a homeowner can plant.

Seasonal Characteristics:

• Spring: The red maple is one of the earliest trees to flower. Its small red clusters of flowers are subtle but quite striking, especially against a lighter backdrop.
  
  
• Summer: Its medium to dark green leaves and relatively formal rounded canopy make it a prime shade tree. The canopy is quite dense, and it can be difficult to grow turf underneath mature specimens.
  
  
• Fall: The real reason one plants a red maple becomes apparent in the fall. Although variable, the leaves turn brilliant shades of red or yellow and grace the neighborhood with brief but splendid beauty. The list of red maple cultivars is a long one, and relatively consistent fall color can be attained if one makes a wise choice. Points of Interest:

Points of Interest:

The wood of a red maple is neither strong nor durable and is primarily used for low-grade items such as crates as well as wood pulp. The red maple has stronger wood than silver maple and holds up relatively well in ice and snow, being less troublesome than the silver maple. Pioneers used bark extracts to make ink and dye. Sap is sometimes drawn from the red maple for syrup and sugar but in much lesser quantities than the sugar maple.

Native Range:

Illinois, entire eastern half of the U.S. It can be found in swamps, forests, and rocky areas, a remarkably adaptable species.

Link to Red Maple