Table of Contents
- Edible Uses of Red Maple
- Medicinal Uses of Red Maple
- Alternative Uses of Swamp Maple
- Growing Acer Rubrum
Red maple (Acer rubrum) is not just an icon on the Canadian flag. Its spring flowers are rich in nectar and sought by bees very early in spring when there are less resources. Willow is another very early bloomer. These trees and shrubs are vital for bees and other pollinators, despite the PR being stronger for spring ephemerals.
Edible Uses of Red Maple
Red maple is one of the few maples commonly tapped for maple syrup. In rich soil, this species is almost as productive as sugar maple.
As with many tree species, the inner bark can be dried and ground into a flour as a starvation food. Maple sap itself has long been a starvation food. There were times it was some of my ancestors main staple in the spring, after most resources had been plundered. While I love maple water, I can’t imagine trying to sustain myself on it!
Medicinal Uses of Red Maple
Red maple is primarily said to support these body systems:
- Integumentary
Medicinal tags include Astringent. See Medicinal tag key for more information.
Common usage is the boiled inner bark used as a soothing astringent eyewash for eyes inflamed from smoke exposure. The leaves are also astringent.
Alternative Uses of Swamp Maple
The red inner bark can be boiled with various mordents for dye or ink. Copperas for a grayish dark blue to black dye. Alum for an olive colour.
It’s used for woodworking, with “curly maple” being especially desirable. There are some species of trees (maple, birch) that produce burls whose bark pattern may hint at a complex gain inside. Curly maple has reddish tiger stripes. The craft making side of Song of the Woods often uses pieces of curly maple for knife handles (example on left).
Growing Acer Rubrum
Red maple is very common these days, but also invaluable to pollinators and a tremendous amount of wildlife. And the bees will flock to it first thing in spring. It’s also a host plant for a couple maple-named moths.
It’s fast growing and attractive too, with a bright red fall colour and reddish winter twigs. Some alternate names hint at its favourite conditions: water maple, swamp maple. In our area full of cool wetlands, it finds prime real estate. But it’ll tolerate a variety of conditions. If you’d like to grow one from scratch, the seeds can be planted fresh and the tree may start blooming in about eight years. If you’re buying a tree, just double or triple check identification. It’s most often confused with Freeman’s maple.
WARNINGS
And the Usual Cautions:
1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation. Tannins are toxic if consumed in excess. Before taking any new supplements, you should consult with a healthcare professional.
2) A vast amount of these herbs are diuretic. (See the Medicinal tags above to check if this featured herb is one of them!) Diuretics are generally safe, but they can be risky for people with other medical conditions or who take certain medications. Please consult your doctor if you have any health conditions.
3) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk. For instance, saponins commonly cause stomach upset.
4) For serious medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.
5) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.
6) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.
#ads in References
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Every book I reference that is available on Amazon is linked to with an associates link.
REFERENCES
My new favourite foraging book is Sam Thayer’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: of Eastern and Central North America (The Sam Thayer’s Field Guides) Paperback – June 1, 2023 and this plant IS featured as one of the edible wild plants in this area. I highly recommend this guide for your bookshelves!
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/red_maple.html
https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/21087
Indian Herbalogy of North America: The Definitive Guide to Native Medicinal Plants and Their Uses
Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants (Out of Print)
An Eclectic Guide to Trees East of the Rockies
The Herb Book: The Most Complete Catalog of Herbs Ever Published (Dover Cookbooks)