Red maple
Acer rubrum L.
Also called red maple, swamp maple.
Adaptable native shade tree that tolerates wet and compacted soils. Small red flowers open before the leaves and fall colour ranges from yellow to scarlet depending on the seed source or cultivar.
Size over time
Typical landscape size 12–18 m (39–59 ft) tall and 8–12 m (26–39 ft) wide; fast growth, about 15 years to maturity. Intermediate sizes use the planner’s growth curve (k = 0.45) from the BB-2in install size.
Bloom
Red flowers, Feb–Apr (northern-hemisphere months; timing shifts with region and season).
| Plant | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red maple : Feb–Apr |
Design notes
- Shallow surface roots lift paving and compete with lawn; keep at least 2 m from walks and drives.
- Leaves yellow (iron chlorosis) on alkaline soils — avoid where pH is above about 7.5.
- Named cultivars give predictable fall colour; for wildlife value, local-ecotype seedlings are equally good.
Regions
Native range: Eastern North America.
Native to these OpenLandscape3D pilot regions:
Native status describes where the species occurs naturally. It is not a promise that it suits a particular garden; site conditions decide that.
Related plants
Plan with Red maple
Place it in a design, check it against your zone, light and moisture, and see it at year three and year ten.