Maples
Summer Red Maple
The red maple (Acer rubrum) is a tree native to North America and is a member of the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family. It is the fastest-growing tree in the Eastern United States, growing up to 70 feet tall at a rate of 18 inches per year. In the north, red maples are usually found in wet bottomlands or moist woods. Further south, it may grow in drier, rockier areas. Red maple trees live between 80 to 100 years when properly cared for.
Red maple trees are named for their rich, highly-desirable bright red foliage that develops in the autumn. The leaves aren't red all year; they're green in spring and summer, but the leaf stalk, twigs, flowers, and samaras are also reddish. It's a popular choice for yards, giving beautiful color, and shade, in a relatively short time. Its reasonably easy care makes it a landscaping mainstay.
Red maples are often confused with a different species, the Japanese red maple tree. The Japanese red maple leaves have five to seven "long fingers" that appear more handlike than Acer rubrum. One way to identify red maple trees is by their lobes—usually three to five shorter lobes. More than 20 cultivars of red maple trees differ in fall foliage colors, height, or leaf shape. It's also not as messy as Norway or silver maples.
Red maples are not toxic to humans, dogs, or cats but are toxic to horses and ponies.
Example of Sizes