Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Pollinators
- Butterflies & moths
- Small mammals
Its very early flowers feed bees, its seeds and buds feed birds and squirrels, and it hosts imperial moth caterpillars.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native tree
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 3–9
- Grows 40–60 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
5.0 out of 5 · 3 reviewsThe quick answer
Red maple is a native shade tree for USDA zones 3-9 that grows 40-60 feet tall and 35-45 feet wide. It takes full sun to part shade and prefers moist, slightly acidic soil, tolerating wet sites. Buy it for fast shade, red flowers in early spring and reliable red-orange fall color.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Red Maple plant profile
Mature size40–60 ft tall · 35–45 ft wide
Typical (40 ft)Up to 60 ft
Upright tree with an oval to rounded crown.
USDA hardiness zones3–9
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Full sun to part shade; fall color is best in full sun.
SoilpH 4.5–7.0
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers moist, slightly acidic soil and tolerates wet, poorly drained sites.
Native to the USRed, orange and yellow fall color
Flowers & fruit
Small red flowers open in drooping clusters before the leaves in early spring. Red winged seeds follow in late spring.
Leaves & fall color
Red, orange and yellow in fall. Three-lobed, toothed leaves that turn red, orange or yellow early in fall.
Pests & disease
Usually trouble-free, though leafhoppers, aphids, maple bladder gall and verticillium wilt can appear. Chlorosis in alkaline soil and wind or ice breakage are the most common problems; shallow roots can lift nearby pavement.
Pruning
Prune in late summer, fall or winter to remove dead, damaged or crossing branches. Maples bleed sap if cut in late winter or spring; it looks alarming but does not hurt the tree.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Red Maple
SPRINGClusters of small red flowers before the leaves, then red winged seeds.
SUMMERDense green shade.
LATE SUMMERLeaves may yellow between the veins in alkaline soil (chlorosis).
FALLEarly, bright red to orange fall color.
Questions people ask about Red Maple
How fast does a red maple grow?
Red maple is a fast-growing shade tree that matures at 40-60 feet tall and 35-45 feet wide. Growth is quickest in moist soil and full sun.
Will red maple grow in wet soil?
Yes. Red maple tolerates wet and poorly drained sites better than most shade trees.
Why are my red maple leaves turning yellow in summer?
Yellow leaves with green veins usually mean the soil is too alkaline, which causes manganese chlorosis. Red maple prefers acidic soil below about pH 7.
How far from the house should I plant a red maple?
Give it room for a 35-45 foot spread and keep it away from sidewalks and driveways, because its shallow roots can lift pavement.
Do I need two red maples for pollination?
No. Red maple is planted for shade and fall color, so one tree is all you need.
What does the red maple look like when it arrives?
It ships as a dormant, leafless bare-root tree about 2-3 feet tall. Soak the roots and plant it promptly.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
Customer Reviews
Based on 3 reviews
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C
Our home got hit by a tornado in June...we lost 40 giant trees. I ordered almost 20 bare root trees and they were shipped quickly. I wish they would have sent a few extras (hahahaha). THANK YOU ALL!
A
I'm very pleased with this seller. I will recommend them to my family & friends.
S
The trees arrived in good shape.
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: NC State Extension, Morton Arboretum.