Red Maple Florida Flame, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Florida Flame is a red maple selection of our native Acer rubrum, a fast shade tree with red winter flowers and fall color when the nights cool. It does best in Southwest Florida on wet or low ground, or where it gets regular irrigation, and it struggles in dry, alkaline soil. We deliver and plant 25 and 45 gallon trees.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- High; thrives on wet or irrigated sites and tolerates seasonal flooding
- Salt:
- Low; keep out of salt spray
Red Maple Florida Flame
Ask for a photo of the actual plant we would deliver.
Red Maple Florida Flame sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Red Maple Florida Flame | 25 Gallon, 45 Gallon |
Red Maple Florida Flame in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 40 to 50 ft tall and 25 to 40 ft wide; shorter on dry sites
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- High; thrives on wet or irrigated sites and tolerates seasonal flooding
- Salt tolerance
- Low; keep out of salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Very hardy; freezes here are no concern
- Growth rate
- Fast with plenty of water
- Florida native
- Yes, red maple is native; Florida Flame is a selected form
- Botanical name
- Acer rubrum 'Florida Flame'
Where Red Maple Florida Flame works in a SW Florida yard
Plant Florida Flame where the soil stays moist: a low yard that floods in summer, the edge of a pond or swale, or a lawn with good irrigation. It makes a broad, rounded shade tree, with red flowers in late winter and red to orange leaves after a cool snap.
Keep it 20 ft or more from the house, pool and pavement. Bald cypress, dahoon holly and sabal palm are good neighbors.
- Shade tree for wet yards
- Pond and swale edge planting
- Winter flowers and fall color
- Large lawn specimen
How our crew plants it
Go wide, not deep: two to three times the width of the root ball, with the top of the ball slightly above grade. Mulch 3 inches deep, off the trunk, and stake larger 45 gallon trees for the first year. The crew sets it, waters it in and cleans up. Lee and Collier allow extra watering for new plantings.
Care after planting
- Water deeply and regularly, especially through the dry season from November to May, since sandy soil here drains fast.
- Watch for yellowing leaves from manganese or iron shortage in alkaline soil, and treat with a micronutrient product.
- Mulch 3 inches deep to hold moisture.
- Prune for a single central leader while the tree is young, since young twigs are brittle and drop in storms.
- Feed lightly in spring and early fall, keeping clear of the June 1 to September 30 ban.
What to watch for
- UF/IFAS notes red maple turns yellow and grows poorly in alkaline soil above about pH 7.2, which many SW Florida lots have.
- Wilted leaves, such as those on a storm-broken branch, are toxic to horses, so keep fallen limbs out of pastures and paddocks.
- Dry, sandy lots without irrigation are a poor fit, because in our zone the tree is best on wet or irrigated sites.
Red Maple Florida Flame questions we hear
Do red maples grow in Southwest Florida?+
Yes, red maple is native to Florida's swamps and wet woods. It does best on wet or low ground, or with regular irrigation, and struggles in dry, alkaline sand. UF/IFAS says that in zone 10 it needs a wet site or irrigation. Florida Flame is a selection with better fall color than most.
Does Florida Flame maple have fall color in Florida?+
Some years. UF/IFAS describes Florida Flame as one of the better selections for Florida, with red new growth and good fall color, but color depends on cool nights, and in Southwest Florida it often arrives late and varies by year. Do not expect a northern show every year.
How far from the house should I plant a red maple?+
Plant it at least 20 ft from the house, pool and driveway. Red maple roots run shallow and spread wide, and the tree can reach 40 to 50 ft tall and 25 to 40 ft wide. Young twigs are brittle and can drop in storms, so structural pruning early helps.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Red Maple Florida Flame
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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