This species is often confused with Acer saccharinum[].

Common Name: Red Maple

General Information

Acer rubrum is a deciduous tree with rather upright branches that usually form a narrow crown; it usually grows around 12 - 18 metres tall, though some specimens reach 25 - 35 metres. The straight, upright bole is usualy clear of branches for much of its height, it can be 90 - 135cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials and is harvested commercially for its attractive wood. It is often grown as an ornamental - many cultivars have been selected for their superior autumn colouring[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - Quebec to Florida, west to Ontario, Minnesota and Texas

Habitat

Usually found in swamps and uplands, it also occasionally grows on dry rocky hillsides and sand dunes[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Acer rubrum is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -35°c when dormant[].
Of easy cultivation, it prefers a good moist well-drained soil[, ], though this species succeeds in wetter soils than most other members of the genus. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Dislikes chalk according to one report[], whilst others say that it does less well on chalk[], often becoming chlorotic as a result of iron deficiency. Prefers a sunny position but tolerates some shade. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[].
This species only yields about half the quantity obtained from the sugar maple (Acer saccharum)[]. It makes a good maple syrup although the yield is comparatively small[]. It can be harvested in late winter, the flow is best on warm sunny days following a frost. The best sap production comes from cold-winter areas with continental climates.
A fast-growing tree for the first 20 - 30years of its life, it may live for 75 - 100 years[].
The tree has a shallow, flattened root system that may buckle nearby sidewalks or driveways if planted too close[].
Red maple is a bad companion plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants[, ].
A variable species with several sub-species[], there are also many named varieties that have been selected for their ornamental value[].

Edible Uses

The sap contains sugar and this can be used as a drink or be concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water[, , , ]. The syrup is used as a sweetener on many foods.

Inner bark - cooked[, ]. It is dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread[].

Self-sown seedlings, gathered in early spring, are eaten fresh or dried for later use[].

Seeds - cooked. The wings are removed and the seeds boiled then eaten hot[]. The seed is very small, about 5mm long, and is produced in small clusters[].

Medicinal

The bark has astringent properties and has been used as an application for sore eyes[]. The inner bark was used according to one report[].
An infusion of the bark has been used to treat cramps and dysentery[].

Agroforestry Uses:

This species can successfully establish itself in recently cleared areas and partially open woodlands[]. It can therefore be used as a pioneer species to speed the regeneration of woodland[].

Other Uses

We have two reports that the leaves of maple species, when laid in layers between crops such as apples, carrots and potatoes, have a preservative effect[, ]. The reports do not name any specific species[].

The boiled inner bark yields a purple colour[, , ]. Mixed with lead sulphate this produces a black dye which can also be used as an ink[]. The dye is dark blue according to another report[].

The wood is used to make basket splints[].

The heartwood is light brown, often somewhat tinged with red; the thick band of sapwood is rither lighter coloured. The wood is close grained, not strong, but hard and very heavy[, , ]. It weighs 38lb per cubic foot[]. The grain of some old specimens is undulated, this gives beautiful effects of light and shade on polished surfaces[]. The wood is commonly used for making chairs and other furniture, turnery, wooden ware, pulp, etc[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the spring in a cold frame. It usually germinates immediately and by the end of summer has formed a small tree with several pairs of leaves[]. Stored seed quickly loses its viability. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours and then stratify for 2 - 4 months at 1 - 8°c. It can be slow to germinate. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until they are 20cm or more tall before planting them out in their permanent positions.
Layering, which takes about 12 months, is successful with most species in this genus.
Cuttings of young shoots in early summer . The cuttings should have 2 - 3 pairs of leaves, plus one pair of buds at the base. Remove a very thin slice of bark at the base of the cutting, rooting is improved if a rooting hormone is used. The rooted cuttings must show new growth during the summer before being potted up otherwise they are unlikely to survive the winter.