Acer rubrum 

Also known as… swamp maple,  scarlet maple

Leaves: Opposite, simple, usually 3 lobes with toothed margins, 2 to 4 inches long.

Flowers: One of the first trees to bloom in early spring, the small red flowers, which appear before the leaves, give the tree a distinctive reddish hue. Fruit: Characteristic maple “samara”, a seed with two slightly divergent wings, ripening quickly in May to June. Bark: On young trees, smooth and light gray; with age becomes darker with scaly ridges and shallow furrows forming concentric circles.

Red maple is the most frequently occurring species in New Jersey forests. It is a medium-sized native tree reaching heights of 40 to 75 feet with diameters of 1 to 21/2 feet, preferring swamps and moist habitats. However, it is also found on the driest ridge-tops and in urban areas, demonstrating its broad adaptability. It is an early invader of old fields and cleared areas.

INTERESTING FACTS

The red maple’s various names describe it perfectly. The Latin name rubrum means red and in all seasons of the year, this tree has something red about it – red blossoms in April, red seeds in May, crimson leaf stems in summer, scarlet foliage in autumn, and bright red twigs and buds in winter. The name swamp maple comes from its preferred habitat.

VALUE TO MAN – YESTERDAY AND TODAY

The wood is used for rough lumber, pallets, furniture, pulpwood, and firewood. The early settlers made inks and dyes from the bark of this tree. An excellent landscape tree, it is often planted in parks and along roadsides. It is relatively disease free, has good form, and displays a brilliant fall color. The sap can be made into syrup, but sugar maple is a better source.

VALUE TO WILDLIFE

In late winter and early spring, the buds and seeds provide a primary food source for gray squirrels; it is used for nesting and cover by many species of birds, while seeds and buds are eaten by cardinals, rose-breasted grosbeak, and turkey. Deer browse the foliage of young trees.