Acer rubrum L.

Red maple, swamp maple, soft maple

About plant names...

Red maple, named for its bright red fall foliage, is a widespread North American native tree.

Identification: The three-tipped leaves distinguish these trees from other maples. Moose maples have somewhat similar leaves, but they are larger and rounded on the bottom. Leaves are bright red to orange-red in the fall. Trees are up to 90' (27 m) high, and up to 30" (76 cm) in diameter. The crown is more conical in shape at first, becoming more oval-shaped as the tree matures. Smooth pale gray bark becomes somewhat scaly and raised as the tree ages. Leaves are 3½-4½" (8.9-11 cm) long, and about the same in width. Flowers are red. Fruits are two-winged samaras; each wing is ½-⅞" (1.5-2.5 cm) long. They form an angle of 50-60°.

Edibility: Poisonous Red maple is very toxic to horses, causing some deaths. Presumably they are unsafe for people as well.

Online References:

Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods

The Ohio State University PLANTFacts database

Wikipedia

The University of Connecticut Plant Database

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Plants.ces.ncsu.edu

A guess · 4/3/2011 · Susan & Raimond’s, Phoenix, Mary­land
≈ 3½ × 4" (8.9 × 10 cm)

4/20/2017 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 12 cm)

4/15/2021 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 2½ × 2½" (6.4 × 7.3 cm)

4/11/2015 · Kirby Storter Park Boardwalk, Everglades National Park, Florida
≈ 11 × 7" (28 × 18 cm)

4/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 3" (10 × 7.6 cm)

5/27/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 6" (16 × 15 cm)

10/31/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

5/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 5" (10 × 13 cm)

10/31/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 15 × 10" (39 × 26 cm)

5/27/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

5/4/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3 × 3½" (7.9 × 9.3 cm)

10/3/2008 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

3/21/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 2½ × 2" (6.7 × 6 cm)

4/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

9/28/2011 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 21 × 31" (52 × 78 cm)

5/4/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

5/2/2023 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine

Acer rubrum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 6 May 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

4/11/2015 · Big Cypress Bend, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Florida
≈ 14 × 12" (34 × 31 cm)

The eyespot galls are Cecidomyia ocellaris · 6/1/2014 · Oak Hill, Littleton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 10 × 7" (25 × 16 cm)

4/8/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 2½ × 2" (7.2 × 5.7 cm) ID is uncertain

5/2/2023 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine

10/7/2012 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 8 × 6" (20 × 14 cm)

5/4/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 4" (13 × 11 cm)

4/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 2½ × 2" (6.4 × 5.2 cm)

5/4/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 5" (10 × 12 cm)

5/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 6" (11 × 14 cm)

5/13/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Flowers appear prior to any leaves. · 4/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 2½" (9.8 × 6.6 cm) ID is uncertain

4/20/2017 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 6" (12 × 14 cm)

A guess · 4/3/2011 · Susan & Raimond’s, Phoenix, Mary­land
≈ 4 × 3½" (10 × 9.2 cm)

The eyespot galls are Cecidomyia ocellaris · 6/1/2014 · Oak Hill, Littleton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 10 × 7" (25 × 16 cm)

5/2/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4½" (15 × 11 cm)

The eyespot galls are Cecidomyia ocellaris · 6/4/2021 · Robert P. Tristram Coffin Wild Flower Reservation, Woolwich, Maine
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.5 cm)

9/25/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 5" (16 × 13 cm)

5/2/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

8/9/2012 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Big Tree Trail, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 21 × 31" (52 × 78 cm)

Range:

About this map...