Acer rubrum L.
Red maple, swamp maple, soft maple
Red maple, named for its bright red fall foliage, is a widespread North American native tree.
Plants: Up to 90′ (27 m) high, and up to 2½′ (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: Leaves are 3½–4½″ (8.9–11 cm) long, and about the same in width. 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.
Flowers: Male and female flowers appearing in separate sessile clusters, though flowers are sometimes also bisexual. They appear from December to May, usually before leaves. Flowers are a rich red color, with five small petals and a five-lobed calyx. Male flowers have 4-12 stamens.
Fruits: Two-winged samaras; each wing is ½–⅞″ (1.5–2.5 cm) long. They form an angle of 50-60°.
Habitats: Almost any soil, from swamps to poor dry soils, below 2953′ (900 m).
Edibility: Poisonous 
Red maple is very toxic to horses, causing some
deaths. Presumably they are unsafe for people as well.
Online References:
Acer barbatum Michx. p.p.
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) 
4/11/2015 · Kirby Storter Park Boardwalk, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm) 
5/27/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 6″ (16 × 15 cm) 
That’s a northern crescent (Phyciodes cocyta). · 6/24/2024 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 4″ (10 × 10 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 
4/25/2021 · Highland Green, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9 × 7.3 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) 
5/2/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts 
8/19/2025 · Saunders Memorial Park, Boothbay, Maine · ≈ 5 × 4″ (13 × 10 cm) 
4/8/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 2½ × 2″ (7.2 × 5.7 cm) ID is uncertain 
4/23/2024 · Topsham Ponds Trails, Topsham, Maine 
10/7/2012 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm) 
4/25/2024 · Bliss Woods Trail, South Freeport, Maine 
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) 
5/2/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4½″ (15 × 11 cm) 
5/2/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm) 
8/9/2012 · Big Tree Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Sapindales | Includes citrus; maples, horse-chestnuts, lychees and rambutans; mangos and cashews; frankincense and myrrh; mahogany and neem |
| Family | Sapindaceae | Soapberry family |
| Genus | Acer | Maples |
| Species | rubrum | Red: red maples have red flowers and predominantly red leaves in the fall |
Acer rubrum description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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