Red Maple, Swamp Maple

( Acer rubrum )

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Pictures - Red Maple tree, leaves

Family -  Aceraceae

Natural Habitat - Hardwood swamps, Bottomland forests, floodplains of rivers, creeks and lakes. Wet, low-lying and flooded sites, often in conjunction with other hardwood species.

Planting Zones - 4 through 10

Description -  Red Maple is a native deciduous tree to 90 + feet, taller than broad, found statewide and throughout most of the continental U.S..

Leaves are opposite with 3-5 lobes, margins serrate, the petioles (leaf stems) & central leaf veins are typically red, as are the fruit, new growth and fall foliage.

Small, red flowers in spring, fruit is a red, two winged key (samara), as is typical of maples.

Landscape Use -  Red Maple may be used as a shade tree, ornamental, screen, street tree

Culture - Propagation is by seed. Full sun to partial shade. Red Maple is best grown on wet soils in South Florida, or will have to be irrigated. Brown, dead areas within individual leaves are a sign of insufficient water.

Fast growing Red Maple needs slightly acidic to acidic soils with good organic content to thrive & grows poorly on soil low in nutrients. Develops chlorosis on alkaline soils. Red Maple has a striking bright red leaf color in fall & early spring when new growth emerges.