Location: Meadows, Woodland Trail, Arrival Hall, Smug, Four Rounds
In Bloom: March and April

Acer rubrum, the red maple, is one of the most common trees in the eastern forest. It is native to all parts of the United States east of the 95th meridian. In Maryland, red maples are known to be one of the earliest flowering plants, and their appearance marks the start of the beekeeping season for Maryland beekeepers. Before leaf buds appear, the red maple produces winged seeds called samaras. These seeds will mature and drop before full leaf development. Acer rubrum is a "true" red maple, meaning that its leaves emerge green in color and change in the fall to the yellow/orange and red foliage for which the tree is best known.