Tree of the Month: Red Maple
They get the name, “red maple” from the color of their leaves in the fall, and from the color of their blooms in the spring.
In the fall, I love driving down the road to see beautiful trees changing color as they prepare to drop their leaves for the winter. My favorite trees, however, are magnificent, fiery red maple trees. Their color stands so boldly against the yellow and brown background of the other fall colors. They get the name, “red maple” from the color of their leaves in the fall, and from the color of their blooms in the spring.
- Size: Red maples are considered medium-sized trees. They grow quickly and they reach 90 feet tall with a trunk 2 foot in diameter.
- Ideal Conditions: Red maples are native to the eastern U.S. They grow best in areas that are moist like swamps; however, they are highly adaptable to other conditions.
- Flower: Each spring, red maples bloom with a beautiful, red flower in dense clusters before the leaves come back out.
- Leaves: The leaves are simple, opposite, and deciduous. They are 2 to 6 inches long and wide with 3 to 5 lobes. Their color is light green topside and pale on the underside.
- Bark: The bark of red maples is smooth and light gray on young trees, but as they age, they become rough, scaly, and dark gray.
Red maples are beautiful to look at, adapt easily to any conditions, and grow quickly. Placing one in your landscape would add an incredible flare in both spring and fall.
To learn more about red maple trees, check out Extension Publication 146, “Know Your Trees”.
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