Red Maple (Acer rubrum 'var. rubrum')

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Height: 50 feet Spread: 40 feet Sunlight: Full sun Hardiness Zone: 3b Other Names: Swamp Maple, Scarlet Maple
 
Description: The Red Maple is a stunning shade tree that consistently lights up the landscape with its vibrant red-orange foliage in fall, accented with hints of yellow. This tree is a great addition to any garden, although it is quite intolerant of alkaline soils.
 
Ornamental Features:
Flowers: Showy clusters of red flowers along the branches in early spring before the leaves emerge.
Foliage: Green deciduous foliage that emerges red in spring. The lobed leaves turn outstanding shades of red and orange in the fall.
Fruits: Produces red samaras in late spring.
Bark: Furrowed silver bark and brick-red branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.
 
Landscape Attributes:
Deciduous tree with a shapely oval form.
Average texture that blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
Low-maintenance tree; should be pruned in summer after leaves have fully developed to avoid 'bleeding' sap.
No significant negative characteristics.
 
Recommended Uses:
Accent
Shade
 
Planting & Growing:
Grows to about 50 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 40 feet.
High canopy with a typical clearance of 7 feet from the ground; not suitable for planting under power lines. Lower branches can be strategically removed as it matures to create a high canopy that allows unobstructed human traffic underneath.
Grows at a medium rate and can live for 80 years or more under ideal conditions.
Thrives in full sunlight.
Quite adaptable, preferring to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water.
May require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat.
Not particular about soil type but has a definite preference for acidic soils. Subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils.
Somewhat tolerant of urban pollution.
This is a selection of a native North American species.