Red Maple vs Tulip Tree - TreeTime.ca

Red Maple vs Tulip Tree

Acer rubrum

Liriodendron tulipifera

Red Maple
Tulip Tree

Red Maple is a beautiful deciduous tree that blooms with small red flowers in the spring. It is one of the first trees to change colour in the fall, turning a brilliant reddish-orange colour. It is one of the most common and widespread maples in North America.

Red Maple is a great choice for parks and large gardens where there is ample room for its root system.

Important note: Red Maple leaves are toxic to horses if ingested in quantity.

Tulip Tree is the perfect shade tree for wide open spaces. It has a shallow and extensive root system, so ensure you give it space to grow. The attractive and showy, yellow-orange, tulip shaped flowers are where this tree gets its name.

Tulip Tree is somewhat rare in Canada but highly sought after as it is difficult to grow. Does best in a moist, well-drained soil.

Red Maple Quick Facts

Tulip Tree Quick Facts

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Zone: 3a
Zone: 4a
Height: 15 m (49 ft)
Height: 24 m (80 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 14 m (45 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: long
Growth form: upright, oval to pyramidal
Spreading: seeds - low
Suckering: none
Suckering: none

Toxicity: wilted leaves toxic to horses

Foliage: 4-lobed somewhat spade-shaped
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Fall colour: golden yellow
Flowers: greenish yellow, tulip-shaped
Bloom time: spring to early summer
Seeds: located within the winged samaras
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

In row spacing: 2.4 - 4 m (8 - 12 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Native to: ON
Other Names: soft maple, swamp maple, water maple
Other Names: canoewood, tulip poplar, tulip-poplar, tuliptree, yellow poplar