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Acer rubrum Observations
(red maple)
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Introduction to the NPN Native Species Observation Program
Red maple (also known as swamp maple) is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree with grey bark, which is scaly on older trees. These trees are often found in swamps and in moist soils. Moderately shade-tolerant, they also thrive in drier habitats. Flowers appear before the leaves, as opposed to sugar maple where flowers appear as the leaves emerge. Twigs are slender, shiny and dark red with whitish dots. Leaf buds are rounded, dark red-wine in color. Leaves are red-tinged in spring, green in summer and bright red in fall. Flowers emerge from dark red buds in early spring and form dense, short-stalked clusters. Male and female flowers usually grow on different branches of the same tree, but they can appear on separate trees. Male flowers are red, while female flowers are yellowish green. Note: Observe only the male flowers for NPN.
Source: Plantwatch Canada
You should record when five well-defined phenological events occur for red maple:
- Beginning of flowering, first flowers open (BF) is the date when in at least three places on the plant the first flowers have opened completely (Photo by Réjean Martel).
- Sprouting of leaves (SL) is the date when the buds begin to burst open in at least three places on the plant under observation. The first green is visible on the young spring shoots and the first scales may fall off the buds.
- Beginning of the unfolding of leaves, first leaf surfaces visible (UL) is the date when in at least three places on the plant under observation first leaves have pushed themselves completely out of the bud or leaf sheath. The leaves have unfolded completely, so that the leaf stalk or leaf base is visible (sometimes only recognizable by bending back the young leaf). At this point, the individual leaf has taken its ultimate form, but has not yet reached its final size.
- Fruit ripe (FR) is the date when in at least three places on the plant under observation, the fruit shows the coloring characteristics of the plant variety (i.e., is ripe), and can be easily removed (i.e., is ready to fall from the plant).
- Coloring of leaves (CL) is the date when approximately 50% of the leaves (including those that have fallen to the ground) have taken on the colors of autumn.
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Please record average dates for each event among multiple plants of the same species. Report by email if any plant appears in poor health or event dates for same-species plants vary by more than a few days.
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