Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
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$30 minimum per species for seed.
Each species requires a minimum of $30 of seed to proceed with checkout.
Pure Live Seed
Pure Live Seed
Seed is provided in Pure Live Seed (PLS) unless otherwise stated.
Pure Live Seed (PLS) refers to the percentage of a seed lot that consists of the desired species and is viable (capable of germination).
Here's why PLS is crucial for native seeds:
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Accurate Planting:
- PLS helps determine the actual number of viable seeds in a given weight or volume of seed.
- This ensures you plant the correct amount of seed to achieve the desired density and success rate.
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Cost-Effectiveness:
- By knowing the PLS, you can avoid overspending on seed that may not germinate.
- This is especially important for native seeds, which can be more expensive than some cultivated varieties.
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Weed Control:
- PLS helps minimize the presence of weed seeds within the seed lot.
- This reduces competition for resources and ensures the successful establishment of the desired native plants.
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Ecological Restoration:
- Using high-quality native seeds with a high PLS is essential for successful ecological restoration projects.
- It helps to re-establish diverse and resilient plant communities that support local wildlife.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
0.01 pounds = 0.16 ounces
- 0.1 pounds = 1.6 ounces
- 0.25 pounds = 4 ounces
- 0.5 pounds = 8 ounces
- 0.75 pounds = 12 ounces
- 1.00 pounds = 16 ounces
Red maple accommodates a wide range of sites, though moist, mildly acidic loam suits it especially well. Its rounded crown eventually occupies the space of a substantial shade tree.
For Acer rubrum, choose full sun to light shade and wet to dry soil. Recorded habitats include moist deciduous and coniferous forests; Swamps; Upland forests; Dry sandy forests on plains, dunes and hills; Savannas. Reported height: 50-80 ft.
Its below-ground structure is described as taproot. Choose the permanent location with that root structure and the mature size in mind. Planning the surrounding space at planting time reduces the need to reorganize an established bed later.
Plant specifications & ecological relationships
Key growing facts
| Sunlight | Full sun to light shade |
|---|---|
| Soil moisture | Wet to dry |
| Height | 50-80 ft |
| Bloom season | Early to mid-spring |
Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
| Growth habit | Single-trunked tree with a rounded crown and ascending to spreading branches |
|---|---|
| Root form | Taproot |
| Soil pH | Acidic soils described in the guide; numerical pH limits are not established |
| Cultivation hardiness zones | Zones 2a–9b (NC State cultivation guidance) |
| Drought tolerance | Drought tolerance reported by NC State; establishment needs and duration are not specified. |
| Deer browsing | White-tailed deer browse twigs and leaves, especially in winter. |
| Salt tolerance | None |
Plant identification & seed reference
| Botanical name | Acer rubrum |
|---|---|
| Other common names | red maple; Carolina Maple; Red Maple; Scarlet Maple; Soft Maple; Swamp Maple |
| Seed germination | Some lots germinate untreated; USDA lists 60–90 cold days at 3°C for others. |
| Plant family | Sapindaceae |
| Seeds per pound — reference estimate | 22720 |
Plant characteristics
A common and widely adaptable native tree. Acer rubrum (Red Maple) has excellent fall color, red flowers, and red seed pods, making it one of, if not the most, attractive maple species. Known for its yellow & scarlet red leaves in the fall this tree is sure to please in any yard!
Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value
| Wetland indicator — NWPL 2022 Midwest | FAC |
|---|---|
| C-value — Chicago region, Flora 2017 | 5 |
| Chicago-region native — Flora 2017 | Yes |
| Native range — U.S. states | Alabama; Arkansas; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin |
| County nativity | Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity. |
Show / hide ▾Plant communities & associates
Other documented plant associations
These published associations show how this plant fits into natural vegetation. The region and community are identified for each list; moisture, shade and flooding can differ within a community.
Tamarack swamps on more productive organic soils
Northern forest region
Baldcypress swamps and bottomlands; tree layer
Southeastern and Gulf Coastal Plain / Mississippi Valley range; differing flood regimes
Forest overstory associates of northern red oak
Eastern North America; species-range synthesis
Northern hardwood forests, including wetter variants
Northern part of the American hornbeam range
Southern mixed-hardwood and loblolly-pine forests
Southern part of the American hornbeam range
Other regional plant communities
These plants are named with this species in published vegetation accounts. Each list keeps its community and region; some records describe a shared vegetation type rather than neighboring plants in a measured plot. They are ecological records, not a planting recipe, and may include plants unsuitable for a particular garden.
- Deciduous forests and wooded swamps (Eastern North America): Fraxinus nigra, Betula alleghaniensis, Quercus rubra, Populus tremuloides, Ulmus spp..
- Mesic upland forests (Southeastern United States): Liquidambar styraciflua.
- Open forests on ridges (Catskill Mountains, New York): Betula alleghaniensis.
- Moist forests and wooded wetlands (Eastern United States and Canada): Cornus sericea.
- Hardwood and mixed forests (Eastern North America; associations vary across the range): Fagus grandifolia.
- Forest canopy and understory associates (Eastern North America; account synthesis): Geranium maculatum.
- Black-cherry and maple forest (Allegheny Plateau and Mountains): Prunus serotina.
- Mixed forest canopy (Eastern and central North America): Quercus alba.
- Bottomland forest types (Central and eastern North America): Quercus palustris.
- Riparian trees and shrubs (Eastern North America; account synthesis): Salix nigra.
- Sugar-maple and basswood forests (Eastern North America): Tilia americana.
Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlife
Caterpillars & other plant-feeding insects
This plant has published caterpillar host records for the butterflies and moths listed below. These are larval feeding relationships, separate from adult nectar visits. The records span a North American literature compilation and do not establish that every insect occurs locally or uses only this plant.
Moths
- Acleris chalybeana — Lesser Maple Leafroller Moth
- Acleris comariana — Strawberry Tortrix (listed as introduced in the source)
- Acronicta americana — American Dagger
- Acronicta retardata — Bantam Maple Dagger, Retarded Dagger
- Anisota oslari — Oslar's Oakworm Moth
- Archips fuscocupreanus — Exotic Leafroller Moth, ?Asian Leafroller (listed as introduced in the source)
- Automeris io — Io Moth
- Besma endropiaria — Straw Besma
- Caloptilia bimaculatella — Maple Caloptilia
- Campaea perlata — Pale Beauty, Fringed Looper
- Catastega aceriella — Maple Trumpet Skeletonizer
- Cenopis pettitana — Maple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
- Dasychira obliquata — Streaked Tussock Moth
- Dasychira tephra — Tephra Tussock Moth
- Dryocampa rubicunda — Rosy Maple Moth, Green-Striped Mapleworm, Rosy Dryocampa
- Eacles imperialis — Imperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Euchlaena amoenaria — Deep Yellow Euchlaena
- Eupithecia swettii
- Eupsilia vinulenta — Straight-Toothed Sallow
- Eutrapela clemataria — Curved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Glaucolepis saccharella
- Halysidota tessellaris — Banded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
- Herpetogramma pertextalis — Bold-Feathered Grass Moth
- Holcocera crassicornella
- Hypena baltimoralis — Baltimore Bomolocha, Baltimore Snout
- Iridopsis defectaria — Brown-Shaded Gray, Willow Looper
- Iridopsis ephyraria — Pale-Winged Gray
- Lambdina fervidaria — Curve-Lined Looper Moth
- Lithophane grotei — Grote's Pinion, Green Fruit Worm
- Lithophane hemina — Hemina Pinion
- Lithophane patefacta — Diomorphic Pinion, Branded Pinion
- Macaria aemulataria — Common Angle
- Macaria pustularia — Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth
- Machimia tentoriferella — Gold-Striped Leaftier Moth
- Melanolophia signataria — Signate Melanolphia
- Morrisonia confusa — Confused Woodgrain
- Morrisonia latex — Fluid Arches, Fluid Mamestra
- Natada nasoni — Nason's Slug Moth
- Nites betulella — Blackdotted Birch Leaftier
- Operophtera brumata — Winter Moth (listed as introduced in the source)
- Orgyia definita — Definite Tussock Moth
- Phyllonorycter trinotella — Red Maple Blotchminer
- Plagodis fervidaria — Fervid Plagodis
- Plagodis serinaria — Lemon Plagodis
- Pococera asperatella — Maple Webworm
- Proteoteras aesculana — Maple Seed Caterpillar, Maple Twig Borer
- Proteoteras willingana — Boxelder Twig Borer Moth, Negundo Twig Borer
- Protoboarmia porcelaria — Porcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
- Sunira bicolorago — Bicolored Sallow
Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions
What are the ideal growing conditions for Red Maple?
Acer rubrum performs best in partial sun to full shade with mesic (adaptable from low swales to dry slopes) conditions. It thrives in authentic regional soil types ranging from sandy loam to well-drained clay loams.
How do I germinate and establish Red Maple from seed?
Seed of Acer rubrum has a germination code of Code A (no pre-treatment required). Seeds can be sown directly in spring into warm, prepared soil.
Is Red Maple deer and herbivore resistant?
Yes. Native plants adapted to Midwestern habitats naturally produce protective secondary compounds and fibrous textures that make them highly resistant to deer, rabbits, and other grazing herbivores.
When should I expect Red Maple to emerge and bloom?
Established plants break dormancy in spring as soil temperatures warm, developing vigorous foliage before blooming in their seasonal window to provide vital nectar when native pollinators need it most.
Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes
Chicago-region assessment: Wilhelm & Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region, via Kenneth Johnson’s Universal FQA dataset (2018). Chicago-region native status is separate from U.S. nativity.
The C-value and Chicago-region native status shown here also agree with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago Region FQA dataset (2017), distributed through the USACE/ERDC fqadata package under CC0.
Flora of the Chicago Region (2017) records this taxon as native in the Chicago region.
The state list describes native botanical distribution. It does not establish county nativity or occurrence, suitability for every site, or the origin of the plants and seeds offered here. An unlisted state is not proof of absence.
Range data: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 4 June 2026 release, accessed 7 September 2026. © The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. CC BY 3.0; selected and reformatted. Kew cannot warrant the quality or accuracy of these data. This use has no Kew endorsement.
State and county nativity: The state list uses WCVP records marked native, excluding introduced, extinct and doubtful records. County nativity has not yet been verified for this listing. Presence in a county or preserve does not establish nativity there.
Documented plant associations: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service — querub; american hornbeam; baldcypress; tamarack. Regions and community contexts are retained in the lists above. Federal botanical facts summarized in original wording; no photographs reproduced.
Available Flora-linked Chicago assessments remain controlling. These regional ecology accounts supplement evidence not available for direct reuse from the Flora; they are not represented as Chicago Flora association lists.
Plant communities: USDA Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System (FEIS): Acer rubrum; Betula alleghaniensis; Cornus sericea; Fagus grandifolia; Geranium maculatum; Prunus serotina; Quercus alba; Quercus palustris; Salix nigra; Tilia americana. Selected association facts regrouped in original wording; regional scope retained. No source photographs or captions reproduced.
Caterpillar host records: Shropshire, K.J. & Tallamy, D.W. (2025), Lepidoptera of North America, Supplement 1. Contains information from this database made available under the Open Database License (ODbL 1.0). Natural Communities selected species-level records and screened source qualifications. The complete selection and transformation instructions for this page are available below under the same license.
C-value source: Flora of the Chicago Region (2017), Universal FQA database 80. Matched source taxon: Acer rubrum. Exact.
Sources checked September 5, 2026. Regional assessments and growing observations apply to their stated settings. Unverified fields are omitted; missing information does not mean an ecological relationship is absent.
- Illinois Wildflowers — John Hilty. Limited botanical facts presented in Natural Communities’ own wording. Source-specific observations retain their stated scope; photographs, original descriptive prose and compiled relationship tables are excluded. Supports: Bloom Season; Deer Resistance; Height; Opening botanical description; Root Architecture & Depth; Soil Moisture Range; Spread Habit; Sun Exposure; Sunlight Exposure.
- Universal FQA — Flora-linked Chicago database 80. Taxonomic names, family and regional nativity originally checked against Kenneth Johnson’s Flora-linked database 80 (2018), citing Wilhelm & Rericha (2017). Limited factual identification only; the C-value follows this Flora-linked database wherever an exact or documented synonym match is available. Supports: Alternate Common Names; Botanical Name; Chicago-region native status; Plant Family.
- USACE/ERDC fqadata — Chicago Region FQA 2017. Herman, B., Sliwinski, R. & Whitaker, S. (2017), Chicago Region FQA Calculator; distributed by USACE/ERDC in fqadata under CC0. Values may differ from Flora of the Chicago Region (2017). CC0 dedication. Retained for comparison; the displayed C-value follows Flora database 80.
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Limited botanical facts presented in Natural Communities’ own wording. Source-specific observations retain their stated scope; photographs, original descriptive prose and compiled relationship tables are excluded. Supports: Alternate Common Names; Drought Tolerance; USDA Hardiness Zones.
- USDA Forest Service — FEIS, wildflower accounts and seed manual. Limited botanical facts presented in Natural Communities’ own wording. Source-specific observations retain their stated scope; photographs, original descriptive prose and compiled relationship tables are excluded. Supports: Germination Code. Source locators: page=225.
- Patrick Goggin — Wisconsin Guide to Native Plants. Limited botanical facts presented in Natural Communities’ own wording. Source-specific observations retain their stated scope; photographs, original descriptive prose and compiled relationship tables are excluded. Supports: Primary Native Habitats; Soil pH Range. Source locators: page=26.
- USDA NRCS PLANTS — taxon profile and characteristics. USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, checked September 5, 2026. Numeric and categorical taxon-level facts only; no photographs or third-party guide prose reproduced. Supports: Salt Tolerance; Seeds per pound — USDA reference estimate.
- USACE National Wetland Plant List 2022 — Midwest. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2022 National Wetland Plant List, Midwest region; effective February 13, 2024. Federal data. Supports: Wetland Indicator Status.
- USDA Forest Service — FEIS, wildflower accounts and seed manual. Taylor, Jennifer L. 2001. Populus deltoides. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System. Public-domain synthesis; community records retain their reported geography. Supports: Documented community associate: Populus deltoides.
- USDA Forest Service — FEIS, wildflower accounts and seed manual. Tirmenstein, D. A. 1991. Quercus alba. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System. Public-domain synthesis; community records retain their reported geography. Supports: Documented community associate: Quercus alba.
Flora rating attribution: Kenneth Johnson (2018), Flora of the Chicago Region UFQA Database, following Gerould Wilhelm and Laura Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Individual rating facts are presented with original commentary; the calculator’s software license is not treated as a license for the underlying Flora publication.
The linked Illinois plant relationships were reconciled with INHS-hosted source inventories on September 6, 2026. Same-remnant pairs were calculated from shared named-site occurrences and organized for this catalog; they are not copied narrative descriptions or proof of microsite compatibility.
Historical botanical names remain visible where used by the source. These regional accounts supplement the available Chicago Flora evidence.
Reusable research data
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Plant Shipping & Care
Plant Shipping & Care
We want to ensure that our customers get what they want, a native backyard oasis. To do that, we need to follow a few simple guidelines and give you some information and pointers to make sure you get your plants delivered in a healthy state.
As a reminder, you will receive an email to confirm your pickup or shipping window just before the plants are ready. See Order Fulfillment below for seasonal fulfillment windows.
Choices to Receive Your Plants & Accessories
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- We do not offer retail pick up
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Order Fulfilment - When Your Plants or Other Items Will Be Ready
We take orders all year long and seed is shipped all year, but we only provide the plants to you in certain fulfillment windows to ensure healthy plants.
Wholesale Orders
- Shipped or are Ready For Pick Up As Requested.
Retail & Website Orders
- Seed Typically Ships Out Within One Week Of Order All Year Long
- Typically, single species flats ship when ready, sometimes as soon as early to mid-April (depends on weather) through early-October.
- Mixed species kits are batched and shipped as indicated on the product page.
- If a plant order is placed while outside of the plant fulfillment window your plants will be reserved through your payment, however, the order will not be fulfilled and shipped until the following spring. We don't want to provide you plants when they won't be happy during the cold winter months.
- Early in the spring and later in the fall certain species may be dormant or partially dormant with brown leaves, however they will return to grow healthy next growing season.
- Your order may arrive in several different shipments.
- If certain plants within an order will not be available until a later date, we may choose to hold the full order until all are ready. In certain circumstances, we may choose to send them in two separate shipments
- Fulfillment is always dependent upon plant availability. We try our best but sometimes plants do not overwinter well and perish. If a plant is on back order you will receive an email indicating the estimated shipping date. If we can not provide the plant we will first notify you and give you an option of substitution or a refund of that individual species.
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Where We Ship
What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery
- Your plants will be packaged with the utmost care
- We will need to cut back certain plants prior to shipping. This seems counter-intuitive, however, the fewer leaves the less water the plants can lose during shipping, resulting in healthier plants for you. This also enables the plants to fit within the protective packaging and shipped safely.
Shipments
- Larger plant shipments will look similar to the picture below with a tray of your plants and a cardboard box to protect them during shipping.
What to Do With Your Plants After Receiving Your Delivery
- Unpack your order IMMEDIATELY
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- Install your plants as quickly as possible and water the entire garden area thoroughly
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- Make sure each plant is receiving the appropriate amount of light.
- Continue to water daily each morning and possibly again in the afternoon
- No additional fertilizer is needed
Seed Shipping & Care
Seed Shipping & Care
There is a minimum order requirement of $30 for each seed species. Seed ships all year and typically ships within a week of an order being placed.
We have attempted to put together some basic information regarding native seed installation, establishment, and maintenance. We hope you find it helpful. If you need further assistance on native seed establishment, please schedule a free consolation call here.
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