Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Form

Height 40 to 65 feet, diameter 10 inches to 2 feet, sometimes larger; forms a narrow, rounded crown.

Bark

Smooth, light gray on young stems; dark gray and rough on old limbs and trunk; old bark divided by shallow fissures into flat, scaly ridges at surface, making tree look shaggy.

Leaf

Opposite; 2 to 5 inches long, 3 to 5 lobes, with double-toothed margins; upper surface light green when mature; lower surface whitish and partly covered with pale down. Winter buds are small, red and somewhat rounded.

Fruit

A samara, 2 winged; 1/2 to 1 inches in length on long, drooping stems; red, reddish-brown or yellow; ripens in late spring and germinates immediately.

Range

Occurs over the entire state; prefers moist soils, though is common on drier sites in mixture with other trees.

Wood

Heavy, close-grained, rather weak, light-brown; used in furniture manufacturing, woodenware and fuel.

Notes

Shape and beautiful foliage colors make red maple an important ornamental tree.