PlantWatch

Maple, Red (Acer rubrum)

Photo by Réjean Martel

Also known as: swamp maple
French name: érable rouge
Bloom time: March to April
Report for: SK, MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, PEI, NF

General: Small to medium-sized deciduous tree with grey bark, which is scaly on older trees. Flowers appear before the leaves, as opposed to sugar maple where flowers appear as the leaves emerge.

Leaves & Twigs: Twigs are slender, shiny and dark red with whitish dots.
Leaf buds are rounded, dark red-wine in colour. Leaves are red-tinged in spring, green in summer and bright red in fall.

Flowers & Fruit: Flowers emerge from dark red buds in early spring and form dense, short-stalked clusters. Male and female flowers usually grow on different branches of the same tree, but they can appear on separate trees. Male flowers are red, while female flowers are yellowish green.
Note: Observe only the male flowers for PlantWatch.

Habitat: These trees are often found in swamps and in moist soils. Moderately shade-tolerant, they also thrive in drier habitats.

Sampling: Tag a typical tree for observation.

To Observe:

• First bloom: when the first male flowers are open on the observed tree (three places)
• Mid bloom when 50% of the flowers are open on the observed tree.
  Leafing when the first leaves push out of the bud and unfold completely (three places)