Rhode Island’s state tree is the red maple, a hardy hardwood tree that can grow up to 90 feet tall. It produces yellow or red flowers in spring and turns a bright red in fall. The tree is common in North America and prefers wet soil. It is vulnerable to forest fires but can withstand freezing temperatures and flooding. The tree is attractive to wildlife and is the primary species in many eastern forests. It is not very fire-resistant but can quickly regrow after a wildfire. The tree is not affected by many diseases that harm other tree species.
Rhode Island’s state tree was the red maple, or Acer rubrum. This hardwood tree can typically reach heights of between 30 and 90 feet (9.14 to 27.4 meters). It usually produces yellow or red flowers in late spring, and can take on a bright reddish hue in fall. The Rhode Island state tree is considered common in North America and can be found growing as far south as Florida, as far west as Texas, and as far north as Newfoundland. It is considered a hardy tree, capable of thriving in many soil types. It usually prefers wetter soil often found in river valleys, marshes and near lakes.
The red maple was unofficially the state tree of Rhode Island since the last decade of the 19th century. The decision was made official in 19. These trees are considered particularly vulnerable to the depredations of forest fires. They are, however, considered to be quite hardy in the face of freezing temperatures and ice, flooding, and excessively wet soil.
These trees probably received their common name due to the crimson hue of their leaves and flowers. Red maple leaves and flowers are typically scarlet in spring and may become scarlet again in fall. The leaves of the Rhode Island state tree can also turn purple or bright yellow in the fall. They are considered attractive additions to most gardens and wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, depend on these trees for a food source in the colder months.
These deciduous trees are often the primary species found in many forests in the eastern United States and Canada. They can grow in rocky, dry soil, though they usually thrive best in rich, moist soil. While individual trees are not considered very fire resistant, new growth of the Rhode Island State Tree generally appears very quickly after a wildfire. The pesticides and diseases that ravaged other tree species, such as chestnut blight, gypsy moth, and Dutch elm disease, are thought to have not only spared these trees but provided more advantageous conditions for them to thrive. This may be because these hazards kill other trees that compete with the Rhode Island State Tree for light, water and other resources, allowing more red maples to thrive faster.
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