Acer rubrum
red maple, scarlet maple
Family
Aceraceae
Leaf Arrangement
opposite
Leaf Attachment
petiolate
Leaf Margin
serrate
Leaf Type
simple
Leaf Shape
palmate lobed
Growth Form
tree
Flower Color
red
Flower Month
February - April
Height (meters)
35.0
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
native
Lifespan
perennial
Leaf Retention
Deciduous
Wetland Class
FAC
Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism
7
Field Characters
Red maples have opposite, lobed leaves that may be confused with those of sweetgum which are alternate. They can be distinguished from silver maple which has fetid smelling twigs and a terminal lobe that is constricted near its base.
Plant Uses
Can be tapped to make maple syrup but not near as productive as sugar maple. Its brilliant red seed in early spring make this tree a showy landscape tree.