Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Bloom time: March – April
Additional photos:
General:
Leaves & Twigs
- Twigs are slender, shiny and dark red with whitish dots.
- Leaf buds are rounded, dark red-wine in colour.
- Leaves are red-tinged in spring, green in summer and bright red in fall.
Flowers & Fruits:
- Flowers emerge from dark red buds in early spring and form dense, short-stalked clusters.
- Male and female flowers usually grow on different branches of the same tree, but they can appear on separate trees.
- Male flowers are red, while female flowers are yellowish green.
- Note: Observe only the male flowers for PlantWatch.
Habitat: These trees are often found in swamps and in moist soils. Moderately shade-tolerant, they also thrive in drier habitats.
PlantWatch Pointers: Tag a typical tree for observation.
To Observe:
- First bloom: when the first male flowers are open on the observed tree (3 places).
- Mid bloom: when 50% of the flowers are open on the observed tree.
- Leafing: when the first leaves push out of the bud and unfold completely (3 places).
Distribution Map:
This species is monitored in:
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
Red maple bark once was used to make dark red, brown, or black dyes.