Red Maple Is The Official State Tree Of Rhode Island. Although the red maple was voted as the state tree by Rhode Island’s school children in the 1890s, it was not officially recognized as the Rhode Island State Tree until 1964. The National Tree Of Rhode Island Red Maple can typically reach heights of between 30 and 90 feet (9.14 to 27.4 meters). It usually produces yellow or red flowers in late spring and can take on a brilliant reddish hue in autumn.
The Rhode Island State Tree is considered common in North America, and can be found growing as far south as Florida, as far west as Texas, and as far north as Newfoundland. Red Maple considered a hardy tree, capable of flourishing in many types of soil. State Tree Of Rhode Island usually prefers wetter soil often found in river valleys, swamps, and near lakes. Red Maple trees probably received their common name due to the crimson hue of the leaves and flowers.
The leaves and flowers of the red maple are typically scarlet in the spring and may again become so in the autumn. The leaves of the National Tree Of Rhode Island may also turn violet or bright yellow in the autumn. They are considered attractive additions to most gardens, and wild animals, such as the white-tailed deer, depend on these trees for a source of food in the colder months.
PHYSICAL DETAILS
Rhode Island State Tree Red maple is a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows up to 90 feet (28 m) tall. Leaves are opposite with three broad lobes. The bark of Red maple tree is smooth and gray but darkens and becomes furrowed in narrow ridges with age. The fruit is red, pink, or yellow, paired, winged, and dangling.
Height: 30-90 ft (9-28 m)
Diameter: up to 4 ft (1.6 m)
Bark: smooth and gray, darkens with age
Fruit: paired, winged pod, 0.75 in (1.9 cm) long
Leaves: 3-5 broad lobes, 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long and wide
LIFESPAN
Red maple is a short- to the medium-lived tree and seldom lives longer than 150 years. It reaches maturity in 70 to 80 years.
HABITAT
Red maple occurs in several eastern deciduous forests and deciduous swamp communities with black ash, yellow birch, northern red oak, black oak, aspen, and elm.