Plant Image Data Base
Acer rubrum
Red Maple or Swamp Maple
- Form
- large deciduous shade tree
- species form matures at about 70' tall by 40'
wide, although the many cultivars are almost
always smaller
- upright oval to upright rounded growth habit in
youth, but often developing several main upper
trunks with age to yield an upright irregular
growth habit for the mature species form, and an
upright rounded growth habit for most mature
cultivars
- medium growth rate
- Culture
- full sun to partial sun
- prefers moist, slightly acid soils, but will
tolerate wet to moderately dry soils
- abundantly available with many cultivars, usually
in ball and burlap but also in container form
- Red Maple is somewhat sensitive to being
transplanted in autumn, and care should be taken
to amend the soil, fertilize, water thoroughly,
mulch liberally, and avoid winter salt spray, to
enhance winter survival
- Foliage
- fall color of the species ranges from bright
yellow to orange to red (most cultivars have an
outstanding fall color in various shades of red)
- Function
- shade, specimen, autumn accent, or wet site tree
- Purpose
- Red Maple is good shade tree with dependable red
foliage in autumn (among its selected cultivars).
- Summary
- Acer rubrum is a common shade and autumn
accent tree in Eastern North America, also valued
for its relatively quick growth and symmetry in
youth.