Red Maple

Scientific Name: Acer rubrum

Family: Aceraceae

Origin: Eastern and Central North America

Red Maple

Why is it called Red Maple? The leaves on these trees turn orange-red and eventually brilliant red in the fall.

Common Names: Red Maple, Red Sunset Maple, Swamp Maple, Scarlet Maple, Soft Maple, White Maple, Water Maple

Mature Height: 45-50 feet

Mature Width/Spread: 35-40 feet

Leaves: The leaves are opposite and simple. There are three shallow upper lobes with coarse margins and two smaller lobes. The top side of the leaves are dull green and the undersurface is whitish and slightly hairy.

In the fall, the leaves become: Scarlet, orange-red, yellow

Historical tidbit: Native Americans used red maple bark as a wash for inflamed eyes and cataracts, and as a remedy for hives and muscular aches.

Did you know …

  • The twigs are a favorite food of white-tailed deer.
  • Red Maple is used for the production of maple syrup.
Red Maple Leaves & Seeds
Red Maple Leaves & Seeds

Sources

https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=868

https://dengarden.com/gardening/Red-Maple-Tree-Facts-Uses-and-Planting-Tips

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Red-Maple

https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=868

Photo Credit

Photos courtesy of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Tree species information from http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/trees

PAGE INFORMATION WAS COMPILED AS PART OF NOAH WERNING’S 2020 EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT.