Red Maple

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_rubrum

Red maples aren't usually red. Go figure. So, get that out of your head now while you can. I know, I was annoyed, too. What gives? Is it the petiole (the little stem coming straight from the leaf onto the branch)? Not really. Underside of the leaf? Not really. Bark? Nope. Running out of options, right?

Acer rubrum is actually really pretty. We have one on campus in a little courtyard type of spot right beside the parking lot to the library, and I remember being on campus last year and yoinking a shot of it from my camera.





This is what the tree looks like in the fall, if it's doing what it's supposed to and losing it's pigment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_rubrum

 I like to think of it as having nice, delicate branches from a good trunk; the canopy seems pretty rounded and overall it has a good, shading shape. The shape does vary, though, and it can be taller or less dense depending on the type (and maples like to hybridize like naughty little buggers, so it's possible to see something like this and it isn't exactly a rubrum.)

The roots are shallow, though, meaning it'll be hard to plant much of anything underneath it. Considering it also tends to be pretty shady, in a manner of speaking, not much will like being there anyway. I'd justify adding some birdhouses or feeders to hang from it, myself. So, it needs a little space, but it does lighten up the scenery very well in the fall. I remember it turning at around October last year, which really gave everything a nice autumn/Halloween type of feel. It is definitely a better choice than 'paper-bag brown' as Dr. Adelberg likes to put it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_rubrum

 The bark is furrowed and a nice uniform brown. Although it doesn't really have much of a pattern, like that pine I never remembered the name of, it is definitely different than the willow I posted about earlier.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_rubrum

Also, the flowers on the tree are red and like to bloom around February, giving things a little bit of color before spring life floats up too much.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_rubrum

 The seeds, Samaras, come in clusters like this.  They generally seem to come paired and will helicopter down (we've all chased them as kids, don't lie about it). The tinges, I'm sure, can be different depending on the tree, but what I can observe is that they're pretty uniform in shape, size and color.









The leaves themselves are pretty evenly shaped, generally with three lobes. 
If one knows anything about trees, telling maples apart from everything else is pretty simple: the leaves are always opposite in maples. Willows, and so forth, tend to alternate. If you look at a cluster, one can see the leaves of maples grow across from each other, rather than taking turns down the stem. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_rubrum

The deepness of the veins can vary, and the deepness of the dissection between lobes can vary. Generally, though, it seems to sport squat, even lobes, making it appear pretty uniform (not really any more squat than wide, etc). 

As far as soils and temperature, it can vary. It seems to tolerate different soils, and definitely different temperatures, to a point. It'll grow along roads, and probably takes salt relatively well - it does grow up north as well as here in SC.

I like them better by themselves. As far as design, I found I really like the one at the library. Why? It's one of two, that I really remember, that lit everything else up with a fiery red color. The other trees were still thinking about changing color, or had lost their leaves completely, meaning this one took center stage. Being around some deep evergreens would also be nice: I love strong contrasts like that, and so keeping this around some firs or deep pines would be picturesque in my opinion. Putting a lot of things around it, though, I believe would detract from the overall beauty: it's pretty on its own and seems to want its own space.

http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-new/ehow/images/a06/3a/7c/prune-red-maple-tree-800x800.jpg

Considering that, I do have to say that these trees wouldn't be good as roadside growth: they aren't uniform enough in shape from plant-to-plant to make it look presentable in a row. I can understand having a road full of fiery reds (mix in some gold-fall color and it would be fantastic) would be nice, but as far as year-round uniformity, it's missing an element physically. Personally, if that were an interest, I'd make it one of few and put other, more uniform plants near it.