Red Maple

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score

0

Native Status

✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON

Closest Direction

Local

CEC Eco-Regions

5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians

Rarity Notes

Globally secure (G5) and secure in both Ontario and Quebec (S5). Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. One of the most common and widespread trees in eastern North America with no conservation concerns.

S22 G5, S5 ON/QC; S26 not SARA listed

Rarity Ranks

QC S5 – Secure, ON S5 – Secure

Migration

Stable

Ecological Context

Red maple is one of the most abundant and widespread trees in eastern North America, occupying an extraordinary range of habitats from peat bogs and swamp borders to dry rocky ridges and sandy uplands. In the Outaouais, it thrives in moist mixed forests alongside sugar maple, yellow birch, and eastern hemlock, and is a prolific colonizer of disturbed sites. It is a subclimax species that can persist in the understory but is eventually replaced by more shade-tolerant hardwoods such as sugar maple and American beech on mesic sites.

S41 subclimax, wide site tolerance; S63 Common in Ottawa-Hull; S10 adaptable to diverse conditions

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles

Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Nutrient Accumulator, Pollinator Attractor, Wildlife Habitat

S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Nutrient Accumulator: S72 Hemenway (tables: 6-2, 7-2, pp. 96, 116)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)] | Wildlife Habitat: S72 Hemenway (tables: 6-2, 7-2, pp. 96, 116)]

Notes

PFAF notes that red maple is a bad companion plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants. Leaves packed around stored fruits and root crops may serve as a preservative, but the dense fibrous root network can prevent other plants from growing near its trunk.

S29 inhibits nearby plants; S4 dense fibrous roots prevent undergrowth

Medicinal Properties

ℹ

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.

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Category

Analgesic, Antidiarrheal, Astringent, Blood Medicine, Dermatological Aid, Eye Medicine, Gynecological Aid, Hemorrhoid Remedy, Orthopedic Aid

S28 Moerman categories from Cherokee, Iroquois, Ojibwa, Potawatomi, Seminole uses

Notes

Bark was widely used by Indigenous peoples across eastern North America. Cherokee used an infusion of bark for cramps and dysentery, and inner bark boiled as an eyewash for sore eyes. Iroquois used bark infusion as drops for sore eyes and cataracts, and a compound decoction as a blood purifier. Ojibwa and Potawatomi used decoction of inner bark as an eyewash. Seminole used bark decoction for sores, limb pains, and hemorrhoids.

S28 23 Moerman medicinal uses; S29 bark astringent, eyewash, cramps, dysentery

Edibility & Foraging

ℹ

Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

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✅ Edible   

Foraging Notes

Sap can be tapped for syrup, though yield is about half that of sugar maple. Inner bark was dried, ground, and used as a flour extender by Iroquois and other peoples. Self-sown seedlings gathered in early spring were eaten fresh or dried. Seeds can be boiled and eaten after removing wings.

S29 sap, inner bark, seedlings, seeds; S28 Abnaki, Algonquin, Iroquois food uses

Toxicity

☠️ High Toxicity

Wilted or dried red maple leaves are toxic to horses, causing oxidative damage to red blood cells (Heinz body anemia) via gallic acid. Ingestion of 1.5-3 lbs of wilted leaves can be lethal to horses. Fresh green leaves and leaves on living trees are not considered dangerous. Not significantly toxic to humans, cattle, or other livestock at normal exposure levels.

S38 horses, leaves, gallic acid; S4 leaves and bark poisonous to livestock; S10 leaves reportedly toxic to cattle and horses

Seed Source

• OSC
• Mount Royal Seeds