Red Maple (Acer rurum) Flowers
This months find are flowers from the Red Maple (Acer rurum). Did you know that the red maple is one of the first trees to bloom in the spring? Red Maples are a beautiful landscape tree that can reach 50-100’ high with a moderate growth rate of 12-24” per year. They do well in moist, well drained soils in full sun or partial shade. Some characteristics include colorful fall foliage, red flowers in early spring, larval food plant for caterpillar of many showy moths (ex. Rosy maples moth and cercopia moth), and a good resource for bees and birds.
In this post, you will see two photos of both the male and the female flowers. Can you tell which one is which before looking below the photos for the answers?
Figure 1:Female flowers remain on the branch (removed for this photo) where the seeds continue to form and mature. Figure 2: Male flowers have fallen off the tree. If you look closely, you can see the anthers of the male flowers coming out around the petals.
Next time you find a red maple perhaps you will look closer to see if you can identify the male and female flowers.
Samples collected by R. Guillory, Fayette MGEV
Please contact the Fayette County Extension Office to help identify plants in your yard.
Kim Toal, is the Fayette County Extension Coordinator and Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources. For more information on gardening in Fayette County, contact Fayette County Extension at 770-305-5412 or online at www.ugaextension.org/fayette.