Overview

Introduce breathtaking seasonal beauty to your landscape with this magnificent red maple tree live plant, scientifically known as Acer rubrum. Renowned for its spectacular crimson-red leaves in autumn, this deciduous tree is a favorite for adding vibrant color and stately presence to any garden or yard. Our quality 12-20 inch specimen is ready to establish itself, promising years of natural splendor. The Red Maple is not just about fall color; it also features attractive red flowers in early spring and graceful green foliage throughout the summer, making it a multi-season interest plant. Its adaptability to a wide range of soil types and climates contributes to its popularity across various regions of the United States, including those where it’s sometimes referred to as a florida maple tree due to its prevalence in warmer zones.

The red maple tree live plant is a versatile choice for homeowners and landscapers alike. It grows at a moderate to fast rate, quickly providing shade and enhancing curb appeal. Whether you’re looking to create a focal point in your garden, line a driveway, or add to a mixed woodland planting, the Red Maple offers a reliable and rewarding experience. Its robust nature and relatively low maintenance requirements once established make it an excellent investment for long-term landscape value.

Key Benefits

The red maple tree live plant offers a multitude of advantages that make it a standout choice for nearly any outdoor setting. From its aesthetic appeal to its ecological contributions, a Red Maple is a wonderful addition:

• Spectacular Fall Color: The most celebrated feature, its leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and even purple in autumn, providing an unparalleled display that brightens the landscape. This vibrant transformation is a highlight of the season.
• Year-Round Interest: Beyond its fall show, the Red Maple offers attractive reddish flowers in early spring, followed by green foliage in summer, and distinctive gray bark in winter, ensuring visual appeal throughout the year.
• Fast Growth Rate: This tree grows at a moderate to fast pace, quickly providing shade and mature beauty to your property, making it an excellent choice for those looking for quicker landscape impact.
• Adaptability: The red maple tree live plant is highly adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, including wet and dry sites, and can thrive in various climates across many USDA hardiness zones.
• Wildlife Support: Its early spring flowers provide an important nectar source for pollinators, and its seeds are a food source for birds and small mammals, contributing to local biodiversity.
• Shade and Energy Savings: As it matures, the Red Maple provides ample shade, which can help cool your home in the summer and potentially reduce energy costs.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, acer rubrum care is relatively straightforward, requiring minimal intervention to thrive, making it suitable for both experienced gardeners and novices.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper acer rubrum care is essential for ensuring your tree thrives and develops its full potential for beauty and health. Red Maples are generally hardy, but a few key considerations will help them flourish. They prefer full sun to partial shade, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal growth and fall color. While adaptable, they perform best in slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soil. If your soil is heavy clay or very sandy, amending it with organic matter like compost can significantly improve its structure and fertility.

Watering is crucial, especially during the first few years after planting. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Deep watering once or twice a week is better than frequent shallow watering, as it encourages deeper root growth. Once established, Red Maples become more drought-tolerant, but supplemental watering during prolonged dry spells will benefit their health and vibrancy. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release tree fertilizer, following package instructions. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can lead to excessive leafy growth at the expense of root development. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins, focusing on removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches to maintain a strong structure and good air circulation.

When considering growing red maple, be aware of common issues. Red Maples can be susceptible to iron chlorosis in highly alkaline soils, which causes yellowing leaves with green veins. This can often be corrected with soil amendments to lower pH or by applying chelated iron. Pests like aphids and scale can occasionally be an issue, but they can typically be managed with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Proper spacing is also important; ensure your tree has enough room to grow to its mature size without crowding, which promotes good air circulation and reduces disease risk. Understanding these aspects of growing red maple will lead to a healthy and beautiful tree.

Size & Details

This offering is for a red maple tree live plant that typically measures between 12-20 inches in height upon arrival. These young trees are grown to be robust and ready for transplanting into your garden. Red Maples (Acer rubrum) are known for their moderate to fast growth rate, generally adding 1 to 2 feet of height per year under ideal conditions. At maturity, they can reach heights of 40-60 feet with a spread of 30-45 feet, forming a rounded to oval canopy. The plant will arrive carefully packaged, either bare-root or in a small nursery pot, depending on the season and supplier, ensuring its health during transit. Expect to see significant growth within the first few seasons after proper planting and care. The vibrant fall color, a hallmark of Acer rubrum care, typically begins to show as the tree matures, usually within a few years of planting.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this red maple tree live plant get?
  
  A: This particular plant will arrive at 12-20 inches tall. At maturity, a Red Maple tree can reach heights of 40-60 feet with a spread of 30-45 feet, making it a substantial shade tree for your landscape.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant?
  
  A: The Red Maple tree (Acer rubrum) is an outdoor deciduous tree. It requires a period of dormancy and is not suitable for indoor cultivation.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need?
  
  A: Red Maples thrive in full sun to partial shade, ideally receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to ensure the best growth and vibrant fall color. Less sun may result in less intense autumn hues.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for?
  
  A: Yes, once established, the Red Maple is considered relatively low-maintenance and adaptable. Initial acer rubrum care involves consistent watering and proper planting, but it becomes quite resilient.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in?
  
  A: Your red maple tree live plant will arrive carefully packaged, either bare-root or in a small nursery pot, depending on the season, to ensure its health during transit. It will be ready for immediate planting upon arrival.
• Q: When is the best time to plant a Red Maple?
  
  A: The best times for growing red maple are typically early spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. This allows the tree to establish its root system before the stress of summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone?
  
  A: Red Maples are very hardy and generally thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9. If you are in these zones, your tree should survive winter well, provided it is properly established.
• Q: What type of soil does a florida maple tree prefer?
  
  A: While adaptable, Red Maples prefer slightly acidic, moist, and well-drained soils. They can tolerate a range of soil types, including clay and sandy soils, but benefit from amendments to improve drainage and fertility.
• Q: How quickly will my tree grow?
  
  A: Red Maples have a moderate to fast growth rate, typically growing 1 to 2 feet per year. You can expect to see noticeable growth within the first few years after planting.
• Q: What is the main difference between a Red Maple and a florida maple tree?
  
  A: “Florida Maple” is often a common name used for a variety of the Red Maple (Acer rubrum var. drummondii) or sometimes for Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum) found in warmer climates. The Red Maple (Acer rubrum) itself is widely distributed across the eastern US, including Florida, showcasing its adaptability to various regional conditions.