Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Beauty, adaptability, and function are three words that can be used to describe the red maple. Red maple occurs all over the eastern half of the US- from Florida to all the way up into Canada. Several sources claim it’s the most common tree in North America, and for good reason. It can survive and thrive in a host of differing climactic conditions, from cold to hot, wet to dry, in a wide range of soil types, and look really good doing it.

Its medium to fast growth rate, combined with good looks and a reputation for having the most beautiful fall color, make red maples a top pick for inclusion as a staple shade tree in yards across America. While it doesn’t drop mast in the form of fruits or nuts like many of our offerings do, it does have attributes that are appreciated by pollinators, wildlife, and humans alike. Red Maples are dioecious, much like persimmon, meaning some trees have only male flowers while the remainder are females that produce seeds. Those seeds are called “samaras” and are what we referred to as “helicopters” when we were kids. The samaras are eaten by birds such as turkeys and waterfowl, and squirrels. Most folks don’t know this, but maple samaras are also edible by human standards, and can be added to stir fry type dishes, or prepared similarly to pumpkin seeds, and in other ways. The male trees are one of the first trees to flower in the late winter/early spring, and provide a critical source of nectar and pollen for honey bees very early in the season. Oh yes, stump sprouts, seedlings, twigs, and buds are a good source of browse for whitetail deer and other vegetation eating critters.