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Red Maple

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Red Maple​​

​Acer rubrum  or Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum

  • Common Name: Red Maple (other common names: Acer Species, Scarlet Maple)
  • Scientific Name: Acer rubrum  or Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum (Currently, the taxonomic resources used by our specialists (the Atlas of Florida Plants, the USDA GRIN database, the USDA PLANTS database, and The Plant List), are all in agreement and use Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum for Florida maple).
  • Family Name: Sapindaceae
  • Origin: native to Florida (Eastern and central North America)
  • Height: 40’ – 70’
  • Width: 30’ – 50’
  • Growth: slow
  • Zone: 4A – 9B
  • Light Needs: Sun to Partial Shade
  • Salt Tolerance:  poor
  • Soil/PH/Texture: It can be tolerant of a wide range of soils, but prefers moist, slightly acid conditions, mildly acidic - mildly alkaline (pH 6.1 – 7.8)
  • Soil Moisture: Mesic - Average water needs, regularly but do not over water, well-drained soil
  • Drought Tolerance: moderately
  • Pests/Diseases: No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for borers, scale, aphids, leafhoppers, caterpillars, Verticillium wilt, Canker, fungal leaf spot and root rots may also occur.
  • Growing Conditions: easy to grow and low maintenance
  • Characteristics: This deciduous tree has vibrant red fall foliage that is eye-catching and come spring, red maple puts on a show with beautiful red flowers and 2-winged samaras (dried fruits). This maple provides beautiful fall colors in muted yellows and oranges, older trees have attractive ribbed gray bark, it is very cold hardy, the leaves are shiny green on top and pale green underneath, 3-5 lobed, and 3-6" across. Species name of rubrum (meaning red) is everywhere in evidence from red flowers, red leaves, red fruit, and red stems. Flowers are primarily male or female or monoecious and appear in late winter to early spring.
  • Propagation: by woody, softwood, or semi-hardwood cuttings, air layering or by seed.
  • Wildlife: attracts white-tailed deer, moose, elk, birds, squirrels, and snowshoe hare.
  • Facts: unknown

  • Designer Considerations: use as a specimen tree, shade tree, accent tree, along medians or sidewalks, and can be used as a container plant for a few years on a patio or deck.