Red Maple
is a handsome native tree growing from 50' up to 100', developing a round head of leaves
with silver under color. Red Maple is a beautiful tree from spring thru winter
but the outstanding color of Red Maple leaves in the fall is their favored quality.
The winter buds are dark red, blunt; the terminak bud is about 1/8th inch long.
The leaves are opposite, simple, 3-6" long, somewhat heart shaped, with 3
triangular lobes and saw-toothed. The stems generally have a reddish look
to them. A sure sign of
spring in the Midwest is the dropping of the Red Maple flower clusters. The
flowers litter the ground in March or April. The seed pods of Red Maple are the
familiar little helicopters 1 inch long which drop in May or June and sprout
shortly after. Red Maple has silver-gray
bark, flaky, with leaves starting out green with a reddish tint in the spring turning
brilliant crimson to yellow in fall. Red Maple can have a wide variation of fall
color. Be aware that only the cultivars such as Autumn Blaze, Northfire,
Northwoods, October Glory Red Sunset and other cultivars can guarantee a
particular fall color. The wood is hard, closed grained, pale reddish, used for
gunstocks, tool handles, oars, furniture and woodenware. Red Maple is excellent
firewood but somewhat less dense than sugar maple. The branches are less brittle
than the silver maple and less prone to breakage. Red Maple grows to 60' in height, in the forest it can
grow taller. Michigan has the tallest Swamp Maple at 179'. Red Maple is a fast
growing tree, faster growing than a Sugar Maple but somewhat slower growing than
a Silver Maple, Acer freemanii is a hybrid cross of silver & red maple. Grows
best in full sun to partial shade. Tends to be a more dense tree than a sugar
maple as the maple decline doesn't affect the red. At Porcupine Hollow red maple
are most commonly found in the damp valley bottoms but occasionally grows on the
dry sandy hilltops. The Red Maple transplants easily bare root, balled and burlapped
or with
root bags and is sometimes dug in mid summer. Red maple and it's cultivars
are one of the most common and preferred landscape tree in the northern 2/3rd of
the US. Be careful when mowing even as the tree reached maturity as damage
can result. Red Maples are hardy from zone 4 to 9 which covers most of the United States,
northern Minnesota, North Dakota being the exception. Red Maple grows well in all types of
soil and can be planted in wet areas.
To
buy Red Maple seedlings and transplants use the table below.
Red Maple
Autumn Blaze leaf
2 1/2" caliper Red Maple
Call for B+B prices.
To order Red
Maple seedlings by PHONE: We're glad to take your
order by phone. For your convenience, we have a toll free number 800
568-9179. Phone orders can be charged to VISA, or MasterCard accounts.
To order Red Maple seedlings by MAIL: For those who wish to
order by mail or prefer to send a check, send orders to:
Porcupine Hollow Farm
8593 W. State Rd. Central Lake, Mi. 49622
To order Red Maple saplings using our secure shopping cart:
Plant Type
