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Maple, Red or Swamp

Vigorous, upright oval crown. Dark green glossy foliage turns brilliant orange-red to red in fall. This was one of the first cultivars selected for clonal propagation. Tolerates wet soils. This species is one of the most familiar of our native trees. It welcomes the spring, often as early as March, with red flowers that appear as a pastel haze from a distance but are delicate and bright red when viewed up close. Flowers are followed in May by hanging clusters of seed, often brightly colored. Leaves are relatively small, emerge reddish, soon turn dark green with a more silvery underside. Summer winds create a shimmering effect as they flutter the leaves to reveal lighter undersides. This species is among the earliest of the maples to color in the autumn. Fall foliage is outstanding, varying from the deepest scarlet to brilliant orange and yellow. The gray bark and interesting branching pattern make this an attractive tree even in winter.