Acer rubrum
Red Maple
3 Gallon, roots are close to filling pot but slightly less dense than we want. Selling a little ahead of time at a discount.
 
Acer rubrum, commonly known as Red Maple, is a fast-growing, deciduous tree widely distributed across New England. It is highly adaptable, tolerating a range of conditions from full sun to partial shade and thriving in moist, acidic soils, including poorly drained wetlands and upland mesic sites. This ecological flexibility allows A. rubrum to coexist with a diverse assemblage of native plants such as Lindera benzoin (Spicebush), Ilex verticillata (Winterberry), and Osmunda cinnamomea (Cinnamon Fern) in wetter habitats, as well as Quercus rubra (Northern Red Oak) and Vaccinium corymbosum (Highbush Blueberry) in upland forests. Red Maple flowers provide an early nectar source for pollinators including Apis mellifera (non-native honey bees) and native Andrena spp. (mining bees), while its seeds are consumed by small mammals such as chipmunks and birds including the Northern Cardinal. The foliage supports the larvae of numerous Lepidoptera, including Dryocampa rubicunda (Rosy Maple Moth), making A. rubrum an ecologically significant species in both urban and natural forest settings.
 
photo by James St. John