Red Maple

Acer rubrum

The Red Maple is widely distributed throughout the state, often in bottomland forests or other wet areas. It is usually a medium sized tree, quick-growing and relatively short lived. In Florida, the common tree usually has a three-lobed, or trident, leaf, but leaves are sometimes five-lobed. The bark is smooth and light gray on young stems, and dark gray and rough on the old limbs and trunk.

The leaves are 2 to 3 inches long and have well-marked lobes, very shallow teeth, or small points, on the edge and are often a pale bluish-gray color on the lower sides with a red leaf stalk (or petiole). They are thin and firm in texture. In autumn, the leaves turn to brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow.

Dense clusters of bright scarlet flowers begin to appear in January before the leaves, with the buds turning a deep red before they open. The winter buds are small, red and round or blunt-pointed. The fruit ripens in spring. It consists of pairs of winged seeds, called samaras, one-half to one inch in length, on long drooping stems, red, reddish brown, or yellow in color.

The wood, which is commercially known as soft maple, is heavy, close-grained, rather weak and of a light brown color. It is not commonly used for commercial purposes in modern day Florida.

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Tree information provided with permission of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for more information visit https://www.fdacs.gov/.