Overview

Introduce the splendor of autumn to your garden with a red maple live plant. This iconic American deciduous tree, scientifically known as Acer rubrum, is celebrated for its rapid growth and breathtaking fall foliage. Shipped as a healthy live plant in a quart-sized nursery pot, it’s ready to bring immediate impact to your landscape. The native red maple is a versatile choice, thriving in a variety of environments and providing essential shade and visual interest throughout the year. Its robust nature makes it an excellent investment for homeowners seeking a low-maintenance yet high-impact tree.

The Red Maple is not just a tree; it’s a living landscape feature that evolves with the seasons. From lush green leaves in spring and summer to the dramatic transformation into brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows in fall, this tree promises a dynamic display. Choosing a red maple live plant means selecting a specimen known for its adaptability and significant ecological benefits, including supporting native wildlife. It’s an ideal choice for those looking to establish a strong, beautiful, and enduring presence in their outdoor spaces.

Key Benefits

Integrating a red maple live plant into your garden offers numerous advantages, enhancing both the aesthetic appeal and ecological value of your property. This remarkable tree provides several key benefits:

• Stunning Seasonal Color: Enjoy an unparalleled display of vibrant red, orange, and yellow foliage each autumn, making your garden a focal point.
• Fast Growth Rate: The Red Maple is a fast growing shade tree, quickly establishing itself and providing substantial shade and structure to your landscape in a relatively short period.
• Native Adaptability: As a native red maple, it is exceptionally well-suited to various soil types and moisture levels, ensuring robust growth and resilience in diverse conditions.
• Year-Round Landscape Value: Beyond its spectacular fall show, the tree offers attractive green foliage in warmer months and a strong, upright form that provides winter interest.
• Ecological Contributions: Supports local ecosystems by providing habitat and food sources for various wildlife, contributing to biodiversity.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, the acer rubrum plant requires minimal care, making it an excellent choice for both experienced gardeners and beginners.
• Versatile Placement: Ideal for lawns, large gardens, parks, or naturalized areas, its rounded canopy offers excellent shade for relaxation and outdoor activities.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your red maple live plant ensures its healthy growth and vibrant display for years to come. These trees are known for their resilience, but a few key practices will help them thrive. For optimal growth, provide your Red Maple with full sun to partial shade, meaning at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. While adaptable, it prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Regular watering is crucial, especially during its first few growing seasons, to establish a strong root system. Ensure the soil remains consistently moist but not waterlogged.

The red maple tree care routine should also include proper fertilization and pruning. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs. Pruning is best done in late summer or early fall after the leaves have fully developed, or in late winter when the tree is dormant. Focus on removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches to maintain a healthy structure. Monitor for common pests and diseases, though Red Maples are generally quite robust. With adequate care, your acer rubrum plant will flourish.

Red Maples are hardy in USDA zones 3-9, making them suitable for a wide range of climates. They can tolerate both wet and dry conditions once established, but consistent moisture is preferred for young trees. Protect young trees from extreme winter winds in colder zones. Proper planting, ensuring the root flare is at or slightly above soil level, is also vital for long-term health. A good layer of mulch around the base will help retain soil moisture and regulate temperature, further aiding the growth of your red maple live plant.

Size & Details

This red maple live plant is shipped in a quart-sized nursery pot, providing a well-established root system ready for planting. At the time of shipment, the plant typically stands between 12-24 inches tall, depending on the season and growth stage. The Red Maple is renowned as a fast growing shade tree, often adding 1-2 feet of height per year under optimal conditions. Mature trees can reach an impressive height of 40-60 feet with a spread of 30-50 feet, forming a beautiful, rounded canopy perfect for providing ample shade.

The plant will arrive as a live, healthy specimen, carefully packaged to ensure its safety during transit. During colder months, it may arrive dormant with few or no leaves, which is a natural state for deciduous trees and indicates a healthy plant ready to burst forth with new growth in spring. This particular native red maple is selected for its vigorous growth and vibrant fall color potential. Expect it to begin showing its full glory within a few years of planting, gradually becoming a prominent and cherished feature in your landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Red Maple plant get? A: This red maple live plant is shipped in a quart pot and will typically be 12-24 inches tall. As a mature tree, it can reach heights of 40-60 feet with a spread of 30-50 feet, making it an excellent fast growing shade tree.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The red maple live plant is shipped in a quart-sized nursery pot, providing a healthy start for transplanting into your garden.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is an outdoor tree, best suited for planting in gardens, yards, and naturalized areas where it can grow to its full mature size.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For optimal growth and the most vibrant fall colors, the Red Maple prefers full sun to partial shade, meaning at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the native red maple is known for its adaptability and relatively low maintenance once established, making red maple tree care manageable for most gardeners.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your plant will arrive as a live, carefully packaged specimen. During cooler months, it may be dormant and leafless, which is normal and does not indicate an unhealthy plant.
• Q: When is the best time to plant a Red Maple? A: The best times to plant a Red Maple are in spring or early fall, allowing the roots to establish before extreme summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The Red Maple is hardy in USDA Zones 3-9, indicating it can withstand a wide range of winter temperatures across most of the United States.
• Q: What type of soil does the Red Maple prefer? A: While adaptable, the acer rubrum plant thrives in moist, well-draining, slightly acidic soils. It can tolerate a range of soil types, including clay and sandy soils.
• Q: How long until it shows fall color? A: Young red maple live plant specimens may show some fall color in their first few years, with increasingly vibrant and dramatic displays as the tree matures.