Red Maple
Scientific Name: Acer rubrum
Family: Aceraceae
Origin: Eastern and Central North America
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.
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.