Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
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Pure Live Seed
Pure Live Seed
Seed is provided in Pure Live Seed (PLS) unless otherwise stated.
Pure Live Seed (PLS) expresses the viable seed content of a seed lot using its purity and germination or viability test results. It helps you compare seed lots and calculate how much bulk seed is needed to meet a specified PLS planting rate.
PLS weight and bag weight
PLS weight is not the same as the total weight of seed in a bag. For example, a lot with 80% purity and 75% viability contains 60% PLS: 80 × 75 ÷ 100 = 60. Supplying 10 lb PLS from that lot requires about 16.67 lb of bulk seed.
Use the current seed test and the stated basis of the mix specification. Germination calculations may include applicable hard or dormant seed. Seed-count estimates also require the number of seeds per pound; PLS alone does not provide a seed count.
What to check when buying a mix
Check whether each rate is stated in PLS pounds, bulk pounds, or a combination. A mix with both bases should not be described as having an all-PLS total.
PLS does not remove weed seeds or guarantee establishment. Review the seed label and analysis for weed content, and match site preparation, planting conditions and follow-up management to your project.
Sources: USDA NRCS, Understanding Pure Live Seed and The Importance of Seed Quality for Natural Resource Conservation.
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 |
Native landscape companions
For partial sun / light shade and mesic soil, consider these native plants alongside Acer rubrum:
| Companion plant | Height |
|---|---|
| Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) | Up to 80 ft |
| Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) | 1-2½ ft |
| Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) | 60-75 ft |
| American Basswood or American Linden (Tilia americana) | 50-100 ft |
These landscape suggestions combine overlapping growing needs with documented plant associations. Match soil, seasonal wetness and mature spread to your site. Remnant records are described separately under Plant communities & associates.
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 (general cultivation guidance) |
| Drought tolerance | Drought tolerance reported in cultivation guidance; 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 ▾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 ▾Native range & C-value
State nativity describes a broad range. Use the Chicago-region assessment for local context; a state listing does not establish county nativity.
| 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 ▾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?
Light: Full sun to light shade. Soil moisture: Wet to dry.
How do I germinate and establish Red Maple from seed?
Some lots germinate untreated; USDA lists 60–90 cold days at 3°C for others.
Is Red Maple deer and herbivore resistant?
White-tailed deer browse twigs and leaves, especially in winter. Even plants described as resistant may be browsed. Use physical protection where deer damage is a concern.
When should I expect Red Maple to bloom?
Typical flowering period: Early to mid-spring. Timing varies with location and weather.
Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes
Landscape companion selection: Natural Communities compared the growing requirements shown on these species pages with selected source records: Black-cherry and maple forest — Allegheny Plateau and Mountains; Forest canopy and understory associates — Eastern North America; account synthesis; Deciduous forests and wooded swamps — Eastern North America; Sugar-maple and basswood forests — Eastern North America. The shortlist is a planting-design inference. A shared record does not establish adjacency, identical soil requirements, local seed origin, or a tested planting combination. Regional synthesis records retain their documented focal-to-associate scope.
Native range & ecological ratings: Flora of the Chicago Region (2017), via Universal FQA; USACE Chicago FQA (2017); Kew WCVP / Plants of the World Online; USACE National Wetland Plant List.
Growing conditions & other references: Illinois Wildflowers, John Hilty; USDA Forest Service: querub; USDA Forest Service: american hornbeam; USDA Forest Service: baldcypress; USDA Forest Service: tamarack; USDA Forest Service: Acer rubrum; USDA Forest Service: Betula alleghaniensis; USDA Forest Service: Cornus sericea; USDA Forest Service: Fagus grandifolia; USDA Forest Service: Geranium maculatum; USDA Forest Service: Prunus serotina; USDA Forest Service: Quercus alba; USDA Forest Service: Quercus palustris; USDA Forest Service: Salix nigra; USDA Forest Service: Tilia americana; USDA Forest Service: species review; Patrick Goggin: Wisconsin native plant guide, p. 75; USDA NRCS PLANTS; USDA Forest Service: species review; USDA Forest Service: species review; NC State Extension Plant Toolbox.
Wildlife records: Shropshire & Tallamy: caterpillar hosts (2025).
Native range does not identify the origin of the seed or plants offered. Community and wildlife records apply to the locations and conditions described.
Research notes & credits
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.
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.
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.
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.
Caterpillar research records
Plant: Acer rubrum
Record scope: Host literature synthesis; no county nativity or local insect occurrence inferred.
Shropshire & Tallamy (2025) · Original research dataset · Reuse license: ODbL-1.0
| Plant names in the source | Source insect record IDs |
|---|---|
| Acer rubrum | 200099, 200102, 200282, 200337, 200930, 201287, 201682, 201805, 202126, 202262, 202371, 202582, 203809, 203812, 204313, 204360, 205064, 205590, 205627, 205675, 206261, 206607, 206842, 206922, 207169, 207389, 207391, 207561, 207826, 207827, 207841, 208002, 208054, 208073, 208240, 208511, 208513, 208557, 208789, 209058, 209081, 210103, 210170, 210174, 210267, 210515, 210522, 210527, 211926 |
How these records were selected
To reproduce this selection, use the “UDELep May 2025” worksheet in the original research dataset.
- Match the insect record IDs above to column A (UDLepID). Within each table row, pair every listed insect ID with every listed source plant name.
- Use the first two words in column H for the insect’s scientific name, column E for its common name, and column AB for its source category.
- Treat the selected pairs as reported caterpillar host records. Keep all other source fields unchanged and outside this selected table. Include no other rows or host pairs.
- Group butterflies and skippers together, and the other categories as moths. Retain the source’s exotic-category labels and sort display names by scientific insect name.
Growing guidance: Illinois Extension — Keeping deer out of the yard and garden. Selected facts in original wording. General deer advice is not a species resistance rating.
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.
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Where We Ship
What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery
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- 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
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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
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