Plot & PetalRed Maple
Acer rubrum
- Fast Fall Color
Safety
Pet safety nuance, not a simple toxic/non-toxic flag: ASPCA and NC State Extension both agree Red Maple is Non-Toxic to Dogs and Non-Toxic to Cats, but Toxic to Horses (a 'problem for horses' per NC State) -- wilted or dried leaves are the dangerous form, causing red blood cell damage. This species genuinely has a different verdict per animal type, worth surfacing clearly in-app rather than collapsing to one badge.
Wilted or dried Red Maple leaves cause hemolytic anemia in horses (damage to red blood cells, reducing oxygen-carrying capacity) via tannins and gallic acid metabolized by gut bacteria into pyrogallol -- serious and potentially fatal for horses specifically. ASPCA and NC State Extension both explicitly clear the same species as non-toxic to dogs and cats. Set here as "toxic" only because a single toxic/non-toxic badge can't represent a species-dependent verdict -- see the note above for the fuller, per-animal picture.
Poison control
If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.
Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.
Quick facts
- Mature size
Typically 40-70 feet tall with a 30-50 foot spread; can reach up to 120 feet in ideal conditions (NC State Extension).
Full field manual in the app
Step-by-step care
The numbered steps for caring for this plant, where we have them.
Why each step works
The reasons behind the steps, where we have them.
Problems and fixes
What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.
Soil, feeding and pruning
How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.