Red Maple

The red maple tree boasts vibrant foliage that provides essential nutrients for various wildlife species. Additionally, it is widely utilized in the furniture and flooring industries.

Maple trees support a diverse range of butterfly and moth larvae, providing an early nectar source for emerging pollinators, often before the emergence of perennials. Their expansive, broad foliage can reach heights of up to 100 feet, making them less suitable for smaller properties.

Quick Growing Guide

Botanical Name: Acer rubrum

Also Called: Swamp Maple, Soft Maple, Water Maple, Plaine, Plaine rouge

En français: Érable rouge

Colour:

• Red

Blooms:

• Spring

Sun / Shade:

• Full Sun
• Partial Sun

Water: Moderate to high water requirement.

Height:

• Over 35 feet (10 meters)

Pollinators:

• Birds
• Mammals

Hardiness Zones:

• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

Sugar maples (Acer saccharum) thrive in well-drained soil. Silver maples (Acer saccharinum) flourish best in soils with clay and clay-loam layers, particularly in low-lying areas and seasonally flooded regions. And of course, Sugar maple. It is strongly advised to refrain from planting or growing the invasive Norway maple (Acer platinoides).

Features and Uses

The red maple tree bears a seed known as a samara, commonly referred to as a helicopter or whirlybird. These seeds are consumed by squirrels and chimpanzees. Notably, the red maple possesses the smallest samaras among all maple species. Red maples are renowned for their abundance in forests, with their spread being managed by moose, deer, and rabbits.

Red maple is considered undesirable on poor sites due to its potential for poor formation and defects. However, on suitable sites, it can grow rapidly and be utilized for logging purposes. Dry, wilted leaves can be toxic to horses if consumed.

Its early-produced pollen holds significant importance for bees and other pollen-dependent insects. Red maple sap can be utilized to produce maple syrup, although it possesses a sugar content half that of sugar maple, making it less commonly used. Additionally, it finds applications in the crafting of musical instruments, pallets, and crates.

Red maple exhibits remarkable adaptability, thriving in diverse soil types, moisture levels, and pH ranges. It attains maturity at approximately 70 to 80 years of age, although its lifespan typically does not exceed 150 years. Red maple is abundantly distributed in eastern North America, ranking among the earliest trees to flower in spring, with the potential to flower as early as four years of age.

Propagating Acer rubrum

Plant the tree in early spring, securing it with a stake to establish a straighter trunk.

Caring for Red Maple

This plant is easy to transplant and establish. It is also shade-tolerant when young.

Pruning Érable rouge

At approximately one year of age, trim the lower six inches of your maple tree to eliminate any low-growing branches. Subsequently, trim the top of the tree to achieve a rounded apex, leaving one branch longer than the others to foster competition. Do not be concerned when you observe sap flow during trimming, as it is a natural occurrence.

A Favorite for Birds

Red maple is a preferred food source for the yellow-bellied sapsucker, which feeds on the sap and insects. However, this feeding habit can result in the formation of holes in the trunk, potentially causing damage to the tree. Red maple is susceptible to a disease called maple wilt, characterized by the development of burnt spots on the leaves and streaks or discoloration of the bark. The causative agent of this condition is a fungus known as verticillium albo-atrum or verticillium dahliae.

History

The abundance of red maple trees has not always been as great as it is today. This decline is attributed to various factors, including disease, forest suppression, and wildfires. Native Americans utilized the bark as a cough suppressant by brewing it. Additionally, pioneers derived brown and black dyes from the bark extract.