Red Maple Tree History

Canada features a red maple tree leaf on its flag.

The red maple tree grows in a pyramid shape when young and lives up to 200 years old. Red maples inhabit wetlands and shaded wood areas. These deciduous trees grow quickly and reach heights of 30 to 90 feet tall.

Origins

Cultivation of the first Acer rubrum or red maple tree happened in 1656. During the last ice age, the red maple tree receded into the eastern portions of North America. The red maple is the most common deciduous tree in the eastern United States.

Characteristics

The red maple has 2 ½- to 4-inch long leaves that turn to vibrant colors of red, orange and yellow in the fall. The bark of the red maple is gray in color and smooth to the touch. Red and orange flowers hang in clusters for the red maple tree during the spring.

Uses

The red maple is an ornamental tree found in parks and residential areas. Red maple trees have the ability to generate maple syrup; however, the sugar maple is the most widely used tree for syrup. Bonsai artists use the red maple tree because the tree responds well to bonsai techniques.

References

• Landscape America: Red Maple
• Rook: Acer Rubrum---Red Maple
• Cornell University Extension: Red Maple---Swamp Maple, Soft Maple