ACER RUBRUM - Red Maple
Red maples are one of the most common deciduous trees of the Eastern and Central United States.
Did you know?
[Elementary School students]
Who likes to live in Red Maple trees?
* Screech owls, pileated woodpeckers and common flickers like to make nests in the cavities of Red Maples.
What part of this tree can be used on pancakes?
* You can get maple syrup from Red Maples (however, Sugar Maples make more maple syrup).
What is the wood from Red Maple trees used to make? (1 – Wikipedia)
* The wood can be used to make furniture, plywood, flooring and railroad ties.
Can Red Maple trees harm animals? (1 Wikipedia)
* The bark of Red Maple trees is toxic for horses and cattle who browse (eat) the bark.
Red Maples are the state tree for which US State? (2 – State Symbols)
* Rhode Island
| Leaf: (3 – USDA) |
Leaf: Green Summer (4 - Missouri Botanic) |
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[Middle School students]
Habitat (where it likes to live) (5 – VA Tech)
* Well drained soils in full sun and also in wet soils
* Location: Eastern and central North America (Zone 3 to 9)
Requirements (what it needs to live) (4 – Missouri Botanic)
* Water: Medium to wet
* Maintenance: Low
Identification (what it looks like) (4 – Missouri Botanic)
* One of the first trees to send out flowers in the spring
* Gray bark on younger trees and darker gray with furrows when older
* Twigs – have a smell (what does it smell like?)
* Leaf stems - red
[High School students]
Habit (how it grows) (4 - Missouri Botanic)
* Height: 40 to 70 feet
* Spread: 30 to 50 feet
* Bloom Time: March to April
* Bloom Description: Red, sometimes yellow
* Sun: Full sun to part shade
* Tolerate: Wet Soil, Air Pollution
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Clusters of flowers |
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Suggested Use (where to plant it in the garden and landscape): (3 – Missouri Botanic)
* Street Tree – to provide shade for sidewalks and along the road
* Rain Gardens – to look good and help shade other plants
* Parks – for example - Seth Hand Park
References:
1 Wikipedia – Wikipedia.org
2 State Symbols – State SymbolsUSA.org
3 USDA – plants.usda.gov
4 VA Tech - dendro.cnre.vt.edu
5 Missouri Botanic Garden – missouribotanicgarden.org
6 Arbor Day – arborday.org