Plant Guides Ornamental and Shade Trees Acer Rubrum
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RED MAPLE Acer Rubrum L.
Alternative Common Names October Glory Maple Uses Erosion control: Red maple is available in quantity for revegetation work and landscaping. It is a valuable riparian buffer plant due mostly to it’s tolerance of wetter soils. Wildlife: Red maple seeds provide food for squirrels and some birds. The species is not preferred by deer as a browse source, so in heavy deer pressure this species is over abundant in forest regeneration. Wood: The wood is not desirable for lumber or veneer. Weediness This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Description Acer rubrum L., red maple, is a wide-ranging native tree that is very well adapted to most soil and site conditions. This species is one of the early harbingers of fall as it turns color well in advance of other eastern deciduous trees, especially when it is located in wet sites. The fiery colors of fall are typically a brilliant red. Conversely, it is also one of the earliest flowering trees in the spring. Red maple has the smallest winged seeds (samaras) of all native maples, about 5/8-3/4 inches long. Also, the samaras ripen in the spring- a trait shared only with silver maple which has much larger samaras. This maple is a medium sized tree with fairly rapid growth (2-5 ft/yr), but not as fast as the much larger growing silver maple. Adaptation and Distribution Red maple is adapted to wet sites where it associates with black ash, cottonwood, and black gum. Some forested wetlands are referred to as maple swamps due to their stands of red maple. However, red maple is also well adapted to well drained but moist soils of upland sites where its companions are sugar maple, beech, black cherry and the birches. This capability makes this species a common tree in home landscapes where the fall colors can be displayed. The range of red maple extends from Florida to the Maritimes and west to Texas and Minnesota. Red maple is shade tolerant. Establishment Red maple seed is easily germinated in nature or in nurseries. The seed can be direct planted with no pre-treatment. The seedlings have moderately fast growth and are usually outplanted as 1 year old or 2 year old bareroot stock. Management Red maple seedlings must be protected from fire and livestock, and are greatly aided where weed and grass competition is controlled. This is particularly true in any plantings where grass sod is the cover between trees. Weed control mulch or fabric, or herbicide treatments are recommended for the first three years or longer. Pests and Potential Problems Few pests seriously bother red maple, although the Asian long-horned beetle is a dire threat to the species if eradication efforts fail. Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) There are many selections in the horticultural trade that have mostly been selected for a growth form oddity. These are not recommended for riparian buffer use, rather the typical growth form is preferred. Purchasing stock of known origin will aid in assuring adaptation, and nurseries should be willing to provide this information. Acknowledgement USDA, NRCS. 2008. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 21 October 2008). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. |
