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Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Family: Maple (Aceraceae)
Height: 40–60' (12–18 m)
Tree: single trunk, narrow dense crown
Leaf: lobed, 3–4" (7.5–10 cm) long, oppositely attached, 3–5 lobes (usually 3), shallow notches in between lobes, double-toothed margin, light green color, red leafstalk
Bark: gray, smooth, broken by narrow irregular cracks
Flower: tiny red hanging flower, .25" (.6 cm) wide, on a 1–2" (2.5–5 cm) long red stalk, growing in clusters, 1–3" (2.5–7.5 cm) wide
Fruit: pair of winged seeds (samara), red in springtime, .5–1" (1–2.5 cm) long
Fall Color: red to orange
Origin/Age: native; 75–100 years
Habitat: wet to moist soils, along swamps or depressions that hold water, sun to partial shade
Range: throughout
Stan’s Notes: One of the most drought-tolerant species of maple in Indiana. Often planted as an ornamental, it can be identified by its characteristic leaves, which have three pointed lobes and red stalks. The common name comes from the obvious red flowers that bloom early in spring, but the flowers and leafstalks are not the only red colors it has. New leaves, fall color and spring seeds are also red. Produces one of the smallest seeds of any of the maples. Also called Swamp Maple, Water Maple or Soft Maple, the latter being used to refer to the Silver Maple (pg. 179) as well. Even though it is sometimes called Soft Maple, its wood is very hard and brittle.
