Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Also known as
Canadian Maple, Scarlet Maple, Swamp Maple, Soft Maple, Red maple, Maple
Acer rubrum (summertime) by Bmerva (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Full Sun
Moderate care
Light watering
Frost Hardy
H6
RHS hardiness
-20°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
---|---|---|
20m | Max | 10m |
10m | Min | 8m |
25 years to reach maturity
Flowering
-
spring
-
summer
-
autumn
-
winter
This plant has no fragrance
More images of Red Maple
Red Maple Overview
Acer rubrum is a bushy, medium to large, deciduous tree species in the Sapindaceae family. The Latin word 'rubrum' means 'red' and in this context, refers to the fantastic autumn colouration of this Acer's leaves - its common names including Red Maple and Scarlet Maple, amongst others. It is a low maintenance, architectural tree that has many sub-species. This hardy (down to -20C) tree forms a rounded to open crown and it can typically reach 30m in height. Clusters of tiny, red flowers appear in spring, followed by lobed, dark green leaves which have a pale blue-white underside. Foliage is arranged oppositely on branches, and the 5–10cm long and wide leaves have serrated edges. Acer Rubrum likes a sheltered position in full sun and needs well-draining soil for optimal growth. It also prefers an acid soil, which helps to maximise its autumn colour.
Common problems with Red Maple
How to propagate Red Maple
Seed
Grafting
Layering
Budding
By budding in summer.
Special features of Red Maple
Attractive leaves
Other uses of Red Maple
A low maintenance tree it is grown as a specimen tree in parks and gardens for it's architectural form and autumn colour. It is also used commercially for the production of maple syrup and lumber.