Redpointe Maple Tree Care Guide

If you want to grow native trees in the garden, the Redpointe Maples are a great option. The tree grows in an upright pyramidal form. As a result, it can tolerate urban environments more than the other trees and is more refined than your Freeman Maple tree.

The red maple tree displays attractive, broadleaf dark green foliage with a fiery red color for fall and remains a showstopper in the landscape. You can plant the tree at driveway entryways to property lines or in the garden’s center for shade.

Plant Name: Acer rubrum Frank Jr.

Other Name: Red Maple Tree, Swamp Maple, Scarlet Maple, Carolina red maple, Drummond red maple, water maple tree

Plant Type: Tree

Native Areas: North America

Light Requirement: Full Sunlight

Watering: Moderate

Fertilizer: Nigtogen Rich Fertilizer

Toxicity: Toxic to horses

Temperature: Cold, hardy, and drought tolerant

Propagation: Cuttings

Growth: 45 feet tall and 30 feet wide

Soil Type: Sandy or Clay Soils

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9

More About Redpointe Maple

young acer rebrum with green foliage

The Redpointe Maple is a member of the Sapindaceae family and a fast-growing deciduous tree. The plant can reach a mature height of 60 feet tall. The growth rate is 18 inches in a year.

The tree prefers wet soil conditions growing in woods in the north. Still, the tree in the south can grow in drier conditions like rock areas. The shade tree can live up to 100 years when taken care of correctly.

The Redpointe Maple has deep green foliage in spring with brilliant red foliage in the fall. Still, throughout the growing season, you see a display of Red in the leaf stalk, flowers, twigs, and samaras.

Furthermore, the Redpointe Maple holds an advantage over the other species of trees for pollination. The Red Maple does not rely on the wind or only insects but both to spread the pollen. The tree is also self-sterile and can produce fruit in a single tree.

The Redpointe produces winged samaras that flutter to the ground to settle in the soil and grow as another tree.

Redpointe Maple Care Guide

Of all the tree species, the red maple trees prefer a spot in full sun but can survive partial shade well. The crucial thing is to provide the tree with drainage in a shady spot.

Planting Redpointe Maple

The best time for planting the Redpointe Maple is early spring or fall. If the ground is workable, then you are good to go. Still, if hard frost is expected, we recommend holding off your planting until it passes.

  1. Make a hole 6 inches wider but not deeper than the root ball. Drop the Red Maple into position, and if needed, fill the bottom with soil to keep it at the same level as in the container.

  2. When planted, the root flair needs to show where the base of the trunk flairs out.

  3. You can place fertilizer packets at the bottom of the hole or work in some compost with the native soil.

  4. Backfill the hole to half and saturate it with water, and once your tree is straight, remove the twine, metal frame, and burlap.

  5. Complete filling the hole to the top and soak well, allowing the tree to settle.

  6. Then add a layer of mulch around the tree’s base without touching the trunk.

The Best Soil For Acer Rubrum Frank Jr

For soil types, red Maple prefers well-drained silty loam and acidic soil. The Redpointe does not grow well in salty or alkaline soils.

When grown in high-pH soils, you end up without the reliably bright red foliage, which looks pale. Hence, enjoying the red flowers and the brilliant fall color helps to test the soil.

The Best Light Conditions For Brilliant Red Foliage

red maple lighting condition

Here only one rule counts provide your red maple trees with at least six hours of full sunlight daily. If you must provide partial sun, it must also be for six hours.

Water Red Maples Frequently

The Redpointe Maple has a slight drought tolerance but prefers that you keep the soil moist. So, regular irrigation with slow and deep watering is ideal.

Young maples must remain moist in the first year but not overwet as it leads to stunted growth. So, keep an eye on the soil moisture at all times.

While your trees are, to some extent, heat resistant, please provide them with more water during dry spells.

Temperature and Humidity

red maple temperature and humidity

When it comes to temperatures, the Acer rubrum can survive from icy cold to dry regions. Yet, the Redpointe Maples grow their best in cooler weather in the north and warm southern climates.

Fertilizing Your Plants

plant fertilizer

Feeding your container plants is not always needed, but you can provide them with a general-purpose fertilizer in early spring. Still, the best feed is a fertilizer high in nitrogen, and you can add a layer of mulch around the base.

Pruning Red Maples

Pruning is not always needed as the Redpointe Maple grows with a pyramidal shape. But it helps to remove overcrowded branches to help avoid narrow angles between the tree’s trunk and give them an upright form with air circulation.

The Red Maples are susceptible to pruning, and best not to cut branches that are less than a few inches in diameter. Also, make your cuts on the outside of the branch collar to help it heal faster.

The best time for pruning is late summer or fall. The maple trees tend to bleed sap when cut earlier in the growing season.

Overwintering

maple tree in winter

For maples, leaf loss is expected in winter, and you should not feed your plant.

Before winter, you can give your plants enough water and use a layer of mulch to protect the roots.

Alternatively, you can use some tarp or burlap to cover your tree. For small potted trees, please place them in an unheated area.

Propagation of Red Maple

The best method to propagate your Redpointe Maple is with cuttings taken in late spring or early summer.

  1. Use your shears to cut 6-8 inches of a branch with an undeveloped bud or light leaf growth. Then remove the leaves from the cutting.

  2. Place the cutting for 20 minutes in warm water.

  3. Next, dip the cut end into a rooting hormone and plant it in a pot filled with sand and moss in a shallow hole.

  4. Secure the cutting with bamboo, stick, and wire to encourage upright growth. Cover the container with a clear plastic bag to help retain soil moisture.

  5. When new growth is visible, you can remove the covering and place it in a sunny spot.

For growing your trees from seeds, you can add soil to a container with a diameter of 8 inches. Take a branch with browning seeds and extract the seed to plant in the pot. Plant the seed two inches below the soil surface and water, frequently keeping it in full sun.

Red Maple Tree Varieties

There are many maple varieties to grow in the landscape, and you can choose one here.

Autumn Blaze Maple Tree

Autumn Blaze Maple Tree

Compared to the Red Maples, the Autumn Blaze Maple also boasts beautiful foliage with fall color. The hybrid of the Red Maples and Silver Maple are both native species of North America. The shade tree is pollution-resistant and adapts to different soil conditions and climates.

Furthermore, these outdoor trees have green foliage turning orange-red in the fall.

Sugar Maple Tree

sugar maple tree

Sugar Maple is known for the gold liquid inside the tree and is high in sugar used to make maple syrup. Still, the trees also add beauty to a landscape as the vegetation changes throughout the season.

Burgundy Belle

burgundy belle red maple tree

The maple tree is a nice selection as it has symmetrical branches, and the foliage color stands out in fall. It is a Red Maple tree native to Wisconsin, attracting wildlife. As the tree matures, the leaves turn to a burgundy color.

Redpointe MapleCommon Diseases and Pests

The tree, as with any plant, can attract pests and diseases. Still, the Redpointe Maples were bred to be quite a disease and pest resistant. But it helps to keep an eye on insects still like:

  • Leafhoppers

  • Aphids

  • Gall Mites

  • Cankerworms

  • Mapleworms

Other common problems are:

  • Verticillium Wilt causes wilted leaves to look brown and fall from the tree. You can control the disease by pruning away the damaged branches and leaves.

  • A weak structure is another problem with Red Maples, as the bark cracks result from overcrowding branches. Again, it helps to do light pruning and cabling to protect your tree.

  • Lastly, black spots on the leaves can develop in spring and result in leaf dropping, affecting the growth of your Red Maple trees.

  • Other concerns are powdery mildew that results from poor air circulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the Redpointe Maple is an excellent tree to have in the landscape as it can adapt to most climates and environments. In addition, it grows huge and can provide shade in the garden. Still, it is best to plant your Red Maple away from the home and power lines.

Maple trees can reach an age of up to 100 years, so they can easily outlive you with the proper care.

It all depends on the maple tree you have. Some maples can take up to 40 years to mature, while others, like the Red Maple, can reach maturity at ten years.

Two maples produce the hardest wood, the Sugar and Black Maple Trees.

Redpointe maples  are considered relatively less messy compared to some other maple varieties. While they do produce some seeds and occasional leaf drop, their compact growth habit and disease resistance contribute to a cleaner landscape.

Whether you want to buy, sell, or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!

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