Red maple Acer rubrum
Red maple (Acer rubrum) is a deciduous perennial tree in the Sapindaceae family. It grows 12–20 m (39–66 ft) tall and 8–12 m (26–39 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -35 °C (-31 °F). Space plants about 9 m (30 ft) apart.
Plan Red maple in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Red maple at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Sapindaceae |
| Mature height | 12–20 m (39–66 ft) |
| Mature spread | 8–12 m (26–39 ft) |
| Spacing | 9 m (30 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance moderate |
| Cold hardiness | About -35 °C (-31 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 33 °C (91 °F) |
| Flowering | from about March for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇨🇦 Canada |
Is Red maple toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not toxic to people, cats or dogs; wilted leaves are dangerous to horses.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Red maple
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
See Red maple in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden (1 plants)
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (1 plants)
Questions about Red maple
- How far apart should I plant Red maple?
- About 9 m (30 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 8–12 m (26–39 ft).
- Does Red maple need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Red maple need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance moderate.
- How cold-hardy is Red maple?
- It tolerates about -35 °C (-31 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
- When does Red maple flower?
- From about March for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Red maple poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not toxic to people, cats or dogs; wilted leaves are dangerous to horses.
- What grows well with Red maple?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Red maple. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Early-spring flowers are a key bee food source.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- Lychee Litchi chinensis
- Longan Dimocarpus longan
- Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum
- Sugar maple Acer saccharum
- Norway maple Acer platanoides
- Field maple Acer campestre
- Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum