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Acer rubrum
  • Red Maple

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Acer genus in the family Aceraceae.

Niche
  • Canopy
    Canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Pioneer
    Pioneer
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral
    Acid to Neutral
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 3
    Zone 3
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Acer rubrum has 0 edible uses listed
Acer rubrum has 0 material uses listed
Acer rubrum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The sap contains sugar and this can be used as a drink or be concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water[1][2][3][4]. The syrup is used as a sweetener on many foods. This species only yields about half the quantity obtained from the sugar maple (A. saccharum)[5]. It makes a good maple syrup although the yield is comparatively small[6]. It can be harvested in late winter, the flow is best on warm sunny days following a frost. The best sap production comes from cold-winter areas with continental climates.

Inner bark - cooked[7][8]. It is dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread[9]. Self-sown seedlings, gathered in early spring, are eaten fresh or dried for later use[10].

Seeds - cooked. The wings are removed and the seeds boiled then eaten hot[10]. The seed is very small, about 5mm long, and is produced in small clusters[K].

Inner bark

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Sap

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Unknown part

Sweetener

Material uses

The leaves are packed around apples, rootcrops etc to help preserve them[11][12].

The boiled inner bark yields a purple colour[5][13][14]. Mixed with lead sulphate this produces a black dye which can also be used as an ink[5]. The dye is dark blue according to another report[15]. The wood is used to make basket splints[16]. This species can successfully establish itself in recently cleared areas and partially open woodlands[17]. It can therefore be used as a pioneer species to speed the regeneration of woodland[K].

Wood - not strong, close grained, hard, very heavy[18][14][19]. It weighs 38lb per cubic foot[19]. The grain of some old specimens is undulated, this gives beautiful effects of light and shade on polished surfaces[5]. The wood is commonly used for making furniture, turnery, pulp, etc[18][14][19].

Unknown part

Basketry
Dye
Preservative
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The bark has astringent properties and has been used as an application for sore eyes[5]. The inner bark was used according to one report[16]. An infusion of the bark has been used to treat cramps and dysentery[16].

Unknown part

Antispasmodic
Astringent
Ophthalmic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Pioneer

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the spring in a cold frame. It usually germinates immediately and by the end of summer has formed a small tree with several pairs of leaves[14]. Stored seed quickly loses its viability. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours and then stratify for 2 - 4 months at 1 - 8°c. It can be slow to germinate. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until they are 20cm or more tall before planting them out in their permanent positions.

Layering, which takes about 12 months, is successful with most species in this genus.

Cuttings of young shoots in June or July. The cuttings should have 2 - 3 pairs of leaves, plus one pair of buds at the base. Remove a very thin slice of bark at the base of the cutting, rooting is improved if a rooting hormone is used. The rooted cuttings must show new growth during the summer before being potted up otherwise they are unlikely to survive the winter.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Acer rubrum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Of easy cultivation, it prefers a good moist well-drained soil[2][20], though this species succeeds in wetter soils than most other members of the genus. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Dislikes chalk according to one report[20], whilst others say that it does less well on chalk[21], often becoming chlorotic as a result of iron deficiency. Prefers a sunny position but tolerates some shade. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[21].

A fast-growing tree for the first 20 - 30years of its life, it may live for 75 - 100 years[17]. Red maple is a bad companion plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants[11][12]. A variable species with several sub-species[19], there are also many named varieties that have been selected for their ornamental value[21].

This species is often confused with A. saccharinum[2].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Acer rubrum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Acer rubrum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Acer rubrum
Genus
Acer
Family
Aceraceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Medicinal uses
[5][16]
Material uses & Functions
[11][12][5][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]
Botanic
[2][22][21]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Pioneer
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
3
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Canopy
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    deciduous
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    vigorous
    Mature Size
    30 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Wind
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.4 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press ISBN 0-253-28925-4 (1977-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.65.7 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
    10. ? 10.010.110.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.111.2 Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (1979-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.112.2 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.1 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
    14. ? 14.014.114.214.314.4 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.1 Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-23310-3 (1976-00-00)
    16. ? 16.016.116.216.316.4 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    17. ? 17.017.117.2 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
    18. ? 18.018.118.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    19. ? 19.019.119.219.319.4 Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292780206 (1982-00-00)
    20. ? 20.020.1 Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. ()
    21. ? 21.021.121.221.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    22. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)


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    Facts about "Acer rubrum"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyAceraceae +
    Belongs to genusAcer +
    Functions asPioneer +
    Has common nameRed Maple +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partInner bark +, Leaves +, Sap +, Seeds + and Unknown part +
    Has edible useUnknown use + and Sweetener +
    Has fertility typeWind +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has growth rateVigorous +
    Has hardiness zone3 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useBasketry +, Dye +, Preservative + and Wood +
    Has mature height30 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntispasmodic +, Astringent + and Ophthalmic +
    Has search nameacer rubrum + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid + and Neutral +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teheavy clayture preferenceHeavy clay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameAcer rubrum +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheCanopy +
    Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +