Red Maple
Acer rubrum

The red maple is a hardy and adaptable deciduous tree common in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and throughout eastern North America.

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An eastern gray squirrel feasts on red maple seeds at Truxtun Park in Annapolis on Wednesday, April 15, 2020. In spring, squirrels will also feed on the buds of several species of tree. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program) USAGE REQUEST INFORMATION The Chesapeake Bay Program's photographic archive is available for media and non-commercial use at no charge. To request permission, send an email briefly describing the proposed use to requests@chesapeakebay.net. Please do not attach jpegs. Instead, reference the corresponding Flickr URL of the image. A photo credit mentioning the Chesapeake Bay Program is mandatory. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way or used in any way that suggests approval or endorsement of the Chesapeake Bay Program. Requestors should also respect the publicity rights of individuals photographed, and seek their consent if necessary.

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Appearance

The red maple is a medium to large deciduous tree named for its distinctive red fall leaves, fruits, flowers and twigs. Its bark is smooth and grey but becomes scaly and dark grey as the tree gets older. Its leaves are 2.5 to 4 inches in length, with three to five pointed lobes that have serrated edges.

In spring and summer, the leaves are a medium-green, later turning red-orange in the fall. Its flowers are pinkish-red and grow in drooping clusters. Its fruits are winged seeds that appear in clusters of pairs. Red maples reach an average height of 60 to 90 feet.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

An early spring bloomer, flowers form in March and April. Winged fruits mature between April and June and are dispersed by air. Seeds usually germinate within ten days. Trees can produce viable seeds at age four, and usually produce good seeds every other year.

After a fire or mechanical disturbance, stumps can sprout new growth. Red maples usually live between 60 to 90 years, but have been known to survive 200 years.

Did You Know?

  • Wildlife use red maples for food, shade and nesting habitat. Squirrels and other rodents feed on the fruits, while rabbits and deer eat the tender shoots and leaves.
  • The quick-growing, hardy red maple is popular in landscaping and for timber production.

Sources and Additional Information

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Plants & Trees Trees & Shrubs Forests & Uplands