Red Maple is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 9. Its early spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
3-9
pH Range
4-6.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Red Maple on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether red maple actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score red maple against your land's real conditions.
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See Red Maple
What Red Maple is
Red Maple grows as a perennial and reaches around 60 feet at maturity. It blooms red in early spring.
How to grow Red Maple
Red Maple grows in USDA zones 3 through 9. Red Maple does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4 to 6.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 210 frost-free days and about 1000 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4 - 6.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
44.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
60 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
1000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
210+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set red maple in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Red Maple prefers pH 4 to 6.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — red maple isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Red Maple offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Red Maple thrives
Red Maple is hardy across USDA zones 3 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–9·Where Red Maple growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Red Maple can grow in these states:
See if Red Maple will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether red maple actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Red Maple in my zone?
Red Maple grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Red Maple?
Set red maple out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Red Maple need?
Red Maple needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Red Maple need?
Red Maple prefers soil pH 4 to 6.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Red Maple attract pollinators?
Yes — red maple's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Red Maple safe for pets?
Red Maple is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.