What soil does Red maple grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, acidic.

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Red maple toxic to dogs?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to dogs.

Is Red maple toxic to cats?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to cats.

How far from the house should Red maple be planted?

Plant it at least 9.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 4 m from paving.

How much water does Red maple need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Red maple

Acer rubrum

Red maple (Acer rubrum) is a large tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Non-toxic to dogs and cats.

Illustration of Red maple — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A medium-sized shade tree with a dense crown, grown for its fiery orange-red autumn foliage; in early spring small red flowers cover the bare twigs. It is happy in moist, slightly acidic to neutral soil and also takes a low, wet part of the garden. On calcareous or dry soil it grows poorly, the leaves turn yellow and the autumn colour fails, and because of its shallow roots it should not be planted close to paving.

Watch out for

On the often calcareous, alkaline garden soils of Central Europe the leaves turn yellow between the veins (manganese and iron chlorosis), growth stalls and the autumn colour fails; the same happens on persistently dry soil. In hot, dry summers the leaf edges scorch without watering. Verticillium wilt can be fatal, and aphids, leafhoppers, scale and borers also occur. The wood is rather brittle, wind and ice can break branches, and it is not a tree for a windy site. The shallow, dense root mat can lift nearby pavements and driveways, and little else grows beneath it.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 6 m × 4 m
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–April, red

All details

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	6 m × 4 m
Ultimate size	12–25 m × 9–15 m
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	March–April, red
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	High
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 9.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 4 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	800 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic
For cats	Non-toxic
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Plants that are non-toxic to dogs Plants that are non-toxic to cats Plants that give shade Plants with autumn colour Large trees with autumn colour

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Red maple vs Box elder Red maple vs Norway maple

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