Acer rubrum, or red maple, is a popular deciduous tree in eastern North America. With a height of up to 100 ft, red maple is known for its brilliant deep scarlet foliage in the fall. It is a fast-growing tree that is hardy to zone 3 and can grow in a variety of soils, from light sandy to heavy clay. The tree's flowers are hermaphroditic, and it is pollinated by wind. Red maple is adaptable to a wide range of site conditions, making it a versatile and popular choice for landscaping. Its leaves are typically 5-10 cm long and wide, with 3-5 palmate lobes. The twigs of the tree are reddish in color, and the buds are usually blunt and reddish in color. The tree's fruit is a double samara, ripening from April through early June. Highly changeable in morphological characteristics, the Red Maple's crown is irregularly ovoid with ascending whip-like curved shoots. It can be found growing in swamps, on poor dry soils, and most anywhere in between, making it a popular choice for a wide variety of landscaping projects.