Name
Red Maple
Scientific Name
Acer rubrum
Wildlife Value
Good
Average height
75'
Origin
Native
Shade Tolerance
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Fair
Growth Rate
Moderate
Fruit
Seed
Special Characteristics
   Red Fall Color (Soft Maple)
Seedling Size
12" to 18"
 
 
 
General Description
The red maple produces bright red to pinkish flowers very early in the Spring long before the leaves appear. Both the red and sugar maples produce lots of sweet sap, but the syrup from the red maple is less delicate. It is also used for musical instruments, especially woodwinds. The red maple will thrive in areas too moist for the sugar maple. It's a sturdy tree that is appreciated as an ornamental because of its brilliantly colored foliate. Red maples rarely live to be 100 years old.
 
Uses
Red maple is a medium quality firewood. High grades of wood from the red maple can nonetheless be substituted for hard maple, particularly when it comes to making furniture. Red maple is also used for the production of maple syrup.