Drummond’s Red Maple
Arbor Walk #172, Treekeeper ID #3933
This tree is a variety of the extremely common Red Maple, present in the southern half of its range reaching northward to Southern Illinois. Comparatively to the other varieties of red maple, this variety inhabits areas with wetter sites and milder winters, such as swamps across the southeastern US. It can be distinguished by the soft hairs on the leaf undersides, which the other varieties do not have. These trees are home to the larvae of multiple species of sphinx moths, and the leaves and seeds of the tree are eaten by local wildlife.
| Common Name | Drummond’s Red Maple |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Acer rubrum var. drummondii |
| Indigenous Name(s) | Miami: šiihšiikimeewinši |
| Cultivar/Variety | |
| Commercial Name |
Global Distribution
Map coming soon
GPS Coordinates
N/A
Percent Concrete
N/A
Distance to Buildings
| Year | Close Building #1 | Close Building #2 | Close Building #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Distance to Other Species
| Year | Close Species #1 | Close Species # 2 | Close Species # 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard Measurements
| Year | Height (m) | DBH (cm) | Crown Diameter N-S (m) | Crown Diameter E-W (m) | Average Crown Diameter (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nests and Pests
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
Leaf Identification
Like other varieties of Red Maple, Drummond’s Red Maple has three main lobes, but has a slightly indented base which is less common in Red Maple. Most distinctly, this variety has a silvery-haired underside that gives the surface a velvety look and feel. The petiole is long and red.
Twig and Bud Identification
Leaves are arranged oppositely on the twig, and the twig is erect, not zigzag. The twig of Drummond’s Red Maple starts red and pubescent, and matures to become reddish-brown with light-colored lenticels. The buds are red, imbricately scaled, narrowly ovoid, and pointed at their tip.
Bark Identification
When young, the bark is grayish with very thin striations along the bark surface. As the bark matures, it becomes gray-brown with the striations developing into flat plates.
Fruit Identification
Like all maples, the fruit of Drummond’s Red Maple is a double samara, a pair of seeds covered in papery wings and connected together. The samara wings are bright red by the fall and will gently flutter and spin to the ground as they fall off the tree.
Flower Identification
Drummond’s Red Maple has male and female flowers, as the tree is dioecious. The staminate (male) flowers are in bunches and reddish with long white stamens. The pistillate (female) flowers are also in bunches, and feature red styles instead of stamens.
ID Tips
- Drummond’s Red Maple features the silvery pubescence on the underside of its leaves that is distinct to this variety of Red Maple.
