Red maple (Acer rubrum) is a native tree in eastern and north-central U.S. and a member of the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family. The U.S. Forest Service has identified red maple as the most prevalent tree in the eastern U.S. It grows faster than Norway or sugar maple, but considerably slower than silver maple, making it a better choice in urban landscaping. In the northern part of its range, red maple is usually found in wet bottomlands or moist woods, but further south it may be seen in drier rocky areas. Red maple trees are aptly named for the gorgeous bright red foliage (or sometimes orange or yellow) that appears in fall. This, along with its fairly minimal needs, makes it a favorite landscape plant over much of North America.