Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Red Maple is grown for its foliage rather than flowers, giving the garden structure and color all season long.
This entry comes from our curated library and has not yet been independently checked against outside sources. Curated is not unreliable: a standing audit keeps every entry internally consistent, and the source-by-source check is working through the whole library in the open.
Growing Red Maple
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–9. Expect it to reach about 49 ft tall and 39 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 20 years.
When to plant Red Maple
Plant Red Maple in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 3 to 9 range, spring means March to May and fall means August or September.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 6 in March.
Good to know about Red Maple
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Wilted or dried leaves are highly toxic to horses and frequently fatal: one case series reported roughly 59% mortality. Listed non-toxic to dogs and cats. per ASPCA and Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Worth knowing
On high-pH soil the leaves yellow while the veins stay green. The soil is not short of manganese and iron; the high pH blocks the roots from taking them up. per Wisconsin
Zone range varies by source
Sources list 2a to 9b, 3 to 8, or 4 to 9. The spread comes from cultivar and where the tree was grown. Match the cultivar to your zone. per NC State
Shallow roots heave pavement
Dense surface roots compete with turf and can lift sidewalks and driveways. Avoid tight tree pits and 4 to 6 ft mulch rings, which encourage girdling roots. per NC State
Thin bark, breakable branches
Thin, easily wounded bark and a tendency to break mean it drops limbs. Site it clear of the house, and prune it young for strong structure. per NC State
Brilliant red fall color
Fall foliage turns brilliant red, often mixed with orange and yellow; the intensity varies from tree to tree and by cultivar. per NC State
Few serious diseases
Anthracnose, tar spot and leaf spots turn up, but the one disease that can kill it is verticillium wilt, which attacks the vascular system. per Clemson
What pairs well with Red Maple
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Perennial Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; both offer pollinator forage; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both are native plants.
Joe Pye Weed
Shares full sun and moderate to high water; both offer pollinator forage; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both are native plants.
Sneezeweed
Shares full sun and moderate water; both offer pollinator forage; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both are native plants.
Trumpet Vine
Shares full sun and moderate water; both offer pollinator forage; both are native plants.
Rosemary
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; both offer pollinator forage; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Arborvitae
Shares full sun and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; both are native plants.
Douglas Fir
Shares full sun and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; both are native plants.
Explore similar plants
You might also like
Design a garden with this
Drop this plant onto a 3D plan, see how it fills in, and watch your whole garden bloom across the year.