Acer rubrum (Fr: érable rouge | En: Red Maple)

Red Maple

Acer rubrum
Alternative names: Swamp Maple, Soft Maple
French: Érable rouge

The Red Maple is one of our most stunning native trees, famous for its brilliant red fall foliage that can light up a forest or a city street. But it doesn’t just shine in autumn—its red flowers appear in early spring, bringing a welcome burst of colour to forests that are still grey and leafless.

This species is also known for being highly adaptable. Unlike the Sugar Maple, the Red Maple can tolerate seasonal flooding, wet soils, and even more acidic conditions. This makes it a great choice for naturalized plantings, urban spaces, rain gardens, or areas prone to water retention.

Red Maples grow well in a variety of sun and moisture conditions, and provide important habitat and food for wildlife—from pollinators visiting the early blooms, to birds and small mammals enjoying shelter in its branches.

The sap of Red Maple is just as sweet as that of Sugar Maple, but the season for tapping is shorter. That’s because Red Maples bud out earlier, and once the buds swell, the sap changes flavour—often described as “turning green.”

Height: Medium to large tree (15–25 m)
Bloom time: April to early May (before leaf-out)
Light: Full sun to part shade
Moisture: Moderate to wet
Soil: Prefers acidic soils; adaptable
Habitat: Swamps, floodplains, mixed forests
Ecological benefits: Early-season flowers for pollinators, adaptable to wet sites
Edible: Yes – sap is sweet but must be collected early in the season