It is the flagship species of our northern hardwood forest type . It's ability to reproduce under fairly heavy shade causes sugar maple to dominate northern hardwood stands to the point where it can form monocultures. Terminal BUDS are reddish and round. These flower bud clusters can be easily seen from the ground, even while looking at taller trees. The BARK on younger trees is smooth and medium-gray, although somewhat darker that sugar maple.
Red maple grows rapidly.
It is one of the first tree species to be found under older red pine stands. It has followed human settlement up the larger Lake Michigan river systems and has been planted in many homesteads. The undersides are very white or silvery which fades somewhat over the summer season. Terminal BUDS are a bit longer but still blunt. BUDS on young trees is silvery smooth but becomes very shaggy on older trees.